2019-10-08_PERMIT FILE - M2019054 (64)

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DISCUSSION This project provided an opportunity to investigate the prehistoric occupation and use of the border land of the Skull Creek alluvial basin in Moffat County, Colorado. There were no significant limitations to the study. As expected, prehistoric cultural resources were recorded within the block area surveyed. The fieldwork for this inventory resulted in the new recording of two prehistoric open camps likely dating from the Late Prehistoric Era. These sites have relatively low artifact counts and are located within the pinyon/juniper forestation. This is consistent with other sites in the area (Nickens and Chandler 1979). Based on these finds, pinyon/juniper cover was the preferred shelter. Also, the camps appear to be short-term occupation sites. Longer-term camps and rockshelter occupations may have been set in lower elevations or where the geological formation provides better overhangs. These open camps were likely open architectural sites containing wickiups whose poles have since rotted or were put to use as fenceposts or firewood by the Historic Euro- American inhabitants of the area. Wickiups are architectural features characteristically similar in that they are poles leaned into the sides of large, old juniper(or pinyon) trees, or are free- standing or self-supporting structures. Most are associated with a sparse number of artifacts and/or a feature of fire-cracked rock. All appear to be Numic in origin, based on the age of the junipers and the artifacts present. This pattern of camp layout has been noted at larger sites in Western Colorado that have poles associated with juniper and pinyon trees [see Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists book entitled"Archaeology of the Eastern Ute: A Symposium" (Nickens, ed. 1988)]. Previous studies in the surrounding area have suggested occupation for as long as 11,000 years. Although there is new evidence of Clovis and Folsom occupations in the region, there is a higher level of data indicating use by Archaic, Formative/Fremont Early Numic and Protohistoric/Historic Ute. The previously recorded prehistoric campsites in the general area are most frequently located on or adjacent to pinyon/juniper forested ridges and mesas. Ridges that border the north-south trending, open alluvial basins were used as campsites and large game look-out positions. Hunting occurred in the open valley areas where grazing was better. Also, the area surrounding the present project is within the Upper Sonoran pinyon/juniper forest, and the site occupants were positioned to take advantage of the nut resource available from the pinyon trees. It is also within seven to eight miles of the riparian zone to the south along the White River that would have provided easy access to the wintering grounds of deer, elk, bison, and antelope along the open river valley. Mule deer populations of the area may have been a significant factor in the site locations. DETERMINATIONS OF EFFECT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS This project was conducted and completed to comply with State legislation governing 9