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• B.P. at SGN205 is considered to be folsum (Carly Paleolndian) in origin (8uler and Steger, <br />19S 1:42,59). In adjacent ChatTee County, site SCP35S yielded a Milnesand Point from <br />Component 1 (dated ca. 10,000-9500 B. P.), a Paleolndian occupation preserved within 40 <br />centimeters below present ground surface (Black 1936.91). <br />Archaic Tradition <br />The appearance of the Archaic Tradition rellects a shift in the availability of food <br />resources caused by climatic changes at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. This shift is <br />apparently responsible for a transition from a Iwnting/mobile subsistence pattern to a <br />hunting gathering/semi-sedentary (or sedentary) one. In Colorado's central mountains, the <br />disappearance of the Cody Complex (Middle Paleolndian period) is followed by a distinct <br />Archaic Lifeway that may have developed in silo, as small scale immigration from adjacent <br />areas, or as long-distance immigration (Black 19SG:201). Black refers to this as the <br />[Archaic] Mountain Tradition. Three periods leave been outlined for the Archaic Tradition <br />and diagnostic point types have been identified. The Garly Archaic period dates between <br />0000 to 3000 B.C.; Nlount Albion Complex paints and Gatecliff Split-seem points arc <br />associated with this period. The Middle Archaic period dating from about 3000 to 500 B.C. <br />Itas a variety of large side- and turner-notched points, and the lanceolate-style McKean <br />Complex and Flumbolt Concave types (many of'tltese exhibit grinding along the stem). The <br />Late Archaic period dates from about 1000 B.C. to A.D. 500. A deeply corner-notched point <br />• called Pelican Lake is characteristic of this period as are the large contracting stem points <br />that are jointly called Gateclil7Contractmg Stem types. <br />Importam in understanding of the Archaic Tradition in the western mountain region <br />of Colorado, is that it exploited three climatic zones: the cool desert, the temperate, and the <br />boreal. Bcc:wse of these cooler climatic conditions, aboriginal peoples living in the area <br />would be required to be collectors--organizing food procurement groups to obtain food and <br />storing that food for at Icast part of the year (Binford 1980:9). <br />The occurrence ot'storage and habitation structures in this region is well <br />documented. Recorded finds of surface and pithouse structures indicate that such were <br />present in the central Rocky Mountains from as early as 5000 B.C. The oldest pithouse in <br />Colorado is the Yarmony site near Kremmling, which dated ca. 5 t 80 Q.C. (Metcalf and <br />Black 1983: I S). Clearly, at various times, ecological niches in these areas provided <br />conditions stable enough for maintenance of a sedentary or semi-sedentary lifestyle. At <br />altitudes of 8000 feet or more in Colorado, what were apparently pole and mud structures <br />have been found in the Curecanti National Recreation Arca near Gunnison and the Windy <br />Gap site near Granby. Radiocarbon dates of ca. 5270-4980 B.C. and ca. 3590-1810 B.C. <br />front the Curecanti sites compare with Windy Gap's dates of ca. 6500 Q.C., ca. 2740 B.C., <br />and ca. 22S0 B.C. (Cassells 1983:73-30). <br />• 6 <br />