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9E <br />• <br />material Hampers analysis by limiting comparisons with other sites <br />that are well dated by an absolute method or established in an or- <br />dered temporal sequence. As a consequence, we have had to draw from <br />whatever sources were appropriate and work with the small sample made <br />from surface collections. <br />Early Prehistoric Period: ?-7000 BC <br />The Early Prehistoric Period begins with the arrival of man in the <br />New World. Sites from this time period are scarce, especially west of <br />the Continental Divide. Thus, it is not surprising that none were locat- <br />ed in the study area. There is evidence of Paleo-Indian presence in <br />the northwestern Colorado-southwestern Wyoming area. The UP Mammoth <br />Kill site (Irwin, Irwin, and Agogino 1962) has a cultural deposit as <br />well as mammoth remains. It is not clear, however, exactly how the <br />two are related. <br />Fluted projectile point fragments, diagnostic of the Early Prehis- <br />toric Period (Mulloy 1958:145), have been recovered in the general area <br />by amateur collectors. These individuals often will not state where <br />such items were found. Others have been reported as surface finds from <br />Rio Blanco County, Colorado. We could then assume that during the Early <br />Prehistoric Period utilization of the Yampa River basin was possible. <br />Data to prove this is unavailable at present. <br />The earliest known occupation of the Yampa River basin is in Oino- <br />saur National Monument at Deluge Shelter (Leach 1970). A date o` ao- <br />proximately 5000 BC has been assigned to this site. This site is the <br />• <br />