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Protohistoric Era <br />The apparent end of the Formative Era (although the Fremont Tradition may have <br />extended until ca. AD 1500) in the region is roughly coincident with the drought of AD 1275- <br />1300 and the ensuing influx of people from the Southwest into the Great Basin and Colorado <br />Plateau. The newcomers, now assumed to be the Utes, were --and are --part of a larger group <br />of Numic Speakers (Shoshonean) of the Uto-Aztecan language phylum (Smith 1974:10). <br />Linguists are fairly certain that the Numic speakers were in southwestern Colorado by AD <br />1300. Their appearance in the Fremont territory ca. AD 1200 is based on finds of Shoshone <br />pottery mixed with the upper strata of Fremont artifacts in many cave sites in Utah (Jennings <br />1978:235). Unfortunately, evidence of their early cultural material is scant, which precludes <br />a precise description of their lifeway. <br />Potential diagnostics of the Ute occupation in northwestern Colorado are Desert Side - <br />notched variants with basal notches, or small side -notched points having a concave base, and <br />the narrow unnotched points referred to as Cottonwood Triangular. Two single component <br />sites found in west -central Colorado and east -central Utah containing these point types have <br />been dated. Site 42GR2236, an open campsite located near Moab, yielded a date of ca AD <br />1280 (Reed 1990). Desert Side -notched and Cottonwood projectile points were also found at <br />the Pioneer Point Site located in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, Uncompahgre <br />Brownware ceramics (micaceous and non -micaceous tempered) were also recovered and <br />dated. Over seven hundred sherds were recovered. These were associated with features <br />dating ca. AD 1476, 474±70 BP, and AD 1466, 484±80 BP (Dial 1989:19). Metal points were a <br />fairly recent addition to the projectile types and probably do not date earlier than the 1800's. <br />Campsites that the Utes occupied within the past 100 to 200 years may have remains <br />of small tepees and wickiups. A more permanent cultural manifestation of the Utes is their <br />rock art, which adorns many canyon walls, caves and boulders in the region. Additional <br />discussion of the Historic Ute occupation of the region is found in the following section. <br />Historic Background <br />The following section provides background information on the early Euro -American <br />exploration and settlement of the area. This includes details concerning the early explorers, <br />fur trappers, and settlers of the region. <br />Historic Aboriginal Habitation <br />Northwestern Colorado was used by various Native American groups in the historic <br />period. The Red Desert, Laramie Plains, North Park, and the plains of the east via Middle <br />and South Parks provided access to various native groups. The presence of Ute Tribes in <br />northwestern Colorado is well documented. "The Ute formerly occupied the entire central <br />7 <br />