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• Campsites that the Utes occupied within the past 100 to 200 years often have remains <br />of small tepees (frameworks of six to eight poles for skin coverings) and wickiups (small <br />bntsh- or bark-covered structures) that are lound throughout western Colorado. Amore <br />permanent cultural manifestation ol'the Utes is their rock art. Their rock art adorns many <br />canyon malls, cases and boulders in the msion <br />Ilistory <br />In 1775 and 1776, the Dominguez and Escalante Expedition verified the presence of <br />the Utes in western Colorado, notably the Tabeguache (Uncompahgre) band in the west <br />central part of the state (Bolton 1972:35). Otlicr Ute bands extant at this time were the <br />Wiminuche in southeast Utah and southwest Colorado, north of the San Juan River; the <br />Capotc (Kapota) in the area cast of the Continental Divide, south of the Conejos River and <br />west of the Sansrc do Cristo Mountains; the Ivloache in the region east of the Sangre de <br />Cristo and Culebra Rinses (Schroeder 1905:54); and the Sabuasanas (Yampa-White River) <br />in northwest Colorado (Smith 1974:'_'9). Population estimates for the Ute during the early <br />historic period vary widely, but it is generally agreed that the Uncompahsres constituted the <br />lamest band, Itavins between 1,000 and 3,000 people. The entire population of all Colorado <br />Ute bands probably never exceeded 10,000 (Rockwell 1956:12). <br />• For more than two centuries, the Colorado Utes enjoyed a relatively prosperous and <br />secure existence. Alter aaluirins horses and weapons from the Spanish, they parlayed their <br />increased mobility and power inro a formidable control of their lands. Numerous skirmishes <br />with the Spaniards, Mexicans, :md later, Americans, occurred during this period, but the <br />clTccts of these were relatively insignificant compared to those of intertribal battles and <br />raiding,. Accurdim, to Schroeder (1965:75), "Shilis in raiding patterns and territorial gains, <br />as well as aboriginal alliances, were tri~;~;ered by aboriginal causes and seem to Have had <br />little relation to Spanish, Mr~eican, and American period occupations." Indeed, had it not <br />been fur the constant internal conflict that weakened and divided aboriginal peoples, white <br />occupation of Ute territory might have been significantly postponed. <br />Early GxRloration/Fur Trahpine <br />The Dominguez-Escalante expedition, which consisted of a ten-man party and a <br />small herd of cattle, was chronicled by Fray Francisco Silvestre Velez de Escalante. He <br />related Itow a small parry of travelers fi~llowed the North Fork of the Gunnison River to near <br />Paonia, then turned north and crossed the cast portion of the Grand Mesa in late August of <br />1776. Led by Fray Francisco Antanasio Dominguez and his junior partner Escalante, the <br />expedition was a one hundred fifty-nine-day trek. Its purpose: to find an overland route <br />from Santa Fe to the recently established missions in California. Reaching the Delta area, <br />the ten-member party turned east and ascended the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley <br />• 10 <br />