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Literature Review <br />files searches were completed throu~sh the OlTice of r\rchaeology and History <br />Preservation of the Colorado liistorical society and The Uncompahgre Resource :\rea Once <br />of the [3urcau of Land Management. One survey has been previously performed in the study <br />area. It was conducted for the State Highway 133 Expansion from Flotchkiss to the Paonia <br />Dam (Gooding 1975). No sites were recorded within the present study area. <br />Culture Ilistory <br />Regional arch;tcological studies suggest nearly continuous human occupation of <br />west-centr:d Colorado for the past 13,000 years Evidence of the Paleulndian Tradition, the <br />Archaic Tradition, formative Cultures, and Protohistoric/I listoric Utes has been found. <br />I listoric records suggest occupation ur use 6y Luror\merican trappers, settlers, miners, and <br />ranchers as well Overviews of the prehistory and history oCthe region arc provided in the <br />Colorado Flislorical Society's publications entitled \Vest-Central Colorado Prehistoric <br />onicxt (Recd 1954) and Colorado Plateau Country Flistoric Context (Husband 19S4). An <br />overview of the local history can be found in a recent study for the Somerset Mine by Steven <br />G.l3akcr(1991). <br />• The study area lies at the wes[ edge of the central mountain region oFCulorado. A <br />study That examined a similar envtronmental area was conducted during 1980 for the E3ureau <br />of I-and Management 's Glcmvood Springs Resource Area This study was an <br />archaeological survey that randomly sampled three percent of its managed lands. A total of <br />17,{00 acres was surveyed for cultural resources. As a result, ~3 prehistoric sites and 2 <br />historic sites were recorded, an average of about 3 sites per section (.0034/acre). Three types <br />of prehistoric sites were distinguisltcd by the study; limited activity areas, slton-term camps, <br />and large habitation sites. These were classified on the basis of site size and diversity of <br />artifacts/activities represented. Notably, the sites were unevenly distributed and varied by <br />vegetation community. The highest site density, about 5.0 sites/section (;t ratio of I site per <br />133 acres), and the greatest diversity of sites occurred in pinyon/juniper and sagebrush <br />communities. Other environmental factors lound to be imponant during the statistical <br />analysis of the settlement patterns included I) vertical distance between the site and the <br />primary water source is a greater controlling factor than the horizontal distance, 3) sites tend <br />to be near or on points of vanta~,c, 3) sites tend to be located in forested areas, preferably <br />with a southern exposure and, 4) sites tend to occur on Flat ground (less than 40°'o grade) in <br />areas of relatively low surface relief([3urgess et al. 19SO:IOS-I'_'0, 138-139). In general, the <br />region exhibits a relatively low site density and sites tend to cluster near permanent water <br />sources. A brief review of the prehistoric context follows. <br />• 4 <br />