PERMFILE49184

• Permit No: C1981018
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/13/2002
• Section_Exhibit Name: CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY 09/1991
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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of long distance travel, and correspondingly more aggressive. The theme of aggres-
sive interaction between aboriginals and increasing numbers of Ang]os intensified
throughout the nineteenth century, culminating in the expulsion of the Ute from the
region rn the 1880s (Reed 1984).
Although Protohistoric/Historic Numic sites evince many traits common to
other cultural traditions and time periods, several traits have been identified that
appear to be reliable indicators of Ute or Shoshone occupation in northwestern
Colorado. These include wickiups, Intermountain Brownware ceramics, trade
beads, and equestrian rock art (Grady 1984). Small side and corner-notched arrow
points cannot be attributed with absolute confidence to Numic peoples unless asso-
ciated with one or more of the traits listed above, as the bow and arrow was in use
throughout a broad surrounding region since about A.D. 500 or earlier (Buckles
1971; Reed 1984; Holmer 1986). Although probably much better represented than
is currently known, identified Numic sites are present in small numbers in the
project area vicinity (Grady 1984).
3.4 Historic Euro-American Period (Late Eighteenth Century-Present)
Athearn (1981) presents an overview of this period. This complex era is
summarized here. Prior to 1810, the sole Europeans to occupy northwestern Colo-
rado were fur trappers. They remained the major Euro-American influence in the
region until about 1860, when the area saw an influx of miners and prospectors
seeking gold. Many small mining communities were established at about this time.
By the 1870s the cattle industry gained prominence in the region, although mining
continued to be economically important into the twentieth century. Industries
supportive of mining and ranching interest, such as lumbering, became important in
the late nineteenth century. Homesteaders moved steadily into the region, and
transportation routes continued to improve. Although mining declined, sheep and
cattle ranching have remained major industries until the present. Since 1920, the oil
industry has achieved importance. Coal mining continues to provide local income.
More recently, the tourism industry has provided a boost to the economy of the
region.
4.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
An overview of the prehistoric context of northwest Colorado (Grady 1984)
was consulted in order to formulate expectations concerning the range. of prehistoric
manifestations that might potentially be encountered. This document identifies
important research domains to facilitate evaluation of prehistoric cultural resources.
Based on the information in this publication, it was expected that the following
prehistoric resource types might be discovered:
^ Isolated artifacts
^ Lithic scatters
^ Campsites
^ Rock shelters
^ Toolstone quarries
^ Rock art
^ Stone circles
^ Game drive sites
^ Masonry structures
^ Wickiups
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