PERMFILE62971

• Permit No: C1981010
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Doc Name: Results of a Class III Cultural Resource Survey
• Section_Exhibit Name: Appendix K Part VIII
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

LITERATURE SEARCH
A literature search was conducted prior to the beginning of the
field work. Several major surveys had been conducted in the area of
the Trapper Mine complex.
The Laboratory of Public Archaeology undertook a reconnaissance
of tracts in Pfoffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties, Colorado (Arthur
1977) during the summer of 1977. Five sites were recorded within the
survey area duringthis reconnaissance. Of these sites, SMF331 and
SP1F348 were historic; 51.1F322, SP1F335, and SPfF343 were lithic scatters
with no diagnostic cultural materials located.
David Breternitz (1970, 197'?) conducted archeological inventories
in the area. Eight previously unrecorded sites were located. Pro-
jectile points dating hetween S00 and 1200 AD were recorded a[ SMF279
(Breternitz 1970:5). Petroglyph and pictograph panels depicting men
on horseback were Eound at SMF281 and SA1F289. These are thought to be
affiliated with the Ute Indians after Hispanic contact (Breternitz
1972:29).
The Laboratory of Public Archaeology did an archeological recon-
naissance of the Utah International Craig Underground Project (Williams
and Jennings 1977). Three isolated findings and one site (SMF475)
were recorded. Although these findings included two projectile point
fragments, the fragments lacked definitive characteristics. Therefore,
• the findings could not be dated.
The Laboratory of Public Archaeology (Fredman and Jennings 1977)
recorded two sites (SMF680 and SMF681) within the present survey area.
Both were lithic scatters with no diagnostic materials.
In general, there is little information available on the arch-
eology of the Yampa River Basin and the Williams Fork Pfountain region.
However, the reconnaissance of the proposed coal lease areas in Ploffat,
Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties, Colorado does contain enough infor-
mation to develop a fairly comprehensive overview of the area (Arthur
and Jennings 1977).
From the data gathered during this reconnaissance it can be said
that the area has been occupied since at least the 14iddle Prehistoric
period. This dating is based on the existence of large corner-notched
projectile points which are characteristic of this period. Six sites
were recorded from the toddle Prehistoric period. Arthur (1977:99)
describes the inhabitants as being "generalized hun[ergathers, possibly
an extended family group."
Small side-notched arrowpoints with basal notches, otherwise
known as desert side-notched points, are considered to be characteris-
tic of the Late Prehistoric period. This period was better substan-
tiated by the findings at SRT30, SRT32, SMF341, and SMF317 than were
earlier periods.
Art}~ur (1977:103-04) describes Historic period and the project's
related findings as follows:
The Historic Period was initiated in 1776 by the appearance
of European explorers, trappers, and settlers in the area.
Aboriginal sites which would be included in the Historic Period
3