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-14- discussion of the environmental shift and its effects is contained in • Section 4.2.4 of this report. The environmental changes forced cultures in the area to shift their subsistence activities from the megafauna to a more intensive exploitation of food resources little utilized during pre- ceding periods. These resources include smaller mammalian species, various plant foods, birds and insects. The post-Pleistocene shift to more intensive exploitation of the environment in the western United States was originally termed the Desert Culture but has been defined more generally as the Western Archaic by J. Jennings (1974:154-189) to contrast it with the Eastern Archaic of the eastern United States where a similar re-orientation was going on under somewhat more advantageous circumstances. The more general definition of the Western Archaic also takes into account the variability of the en- vironments where Western Archaic sites are found. The original definition of the Desert Culture centered it in the Great Basin Province of Utah and Nevada where resource density and variability is lower than in western Colorado. The number of Western Archaic sites in the western United States is considerably larger than those of previous traditions, due in part to • larger populations and also a longer time span. The sites also offer larger numbers of artifacts and a greater range of artifact types. This follows from a necessity to produce a greater number of more specialized artifacts and tools to more efficiently exploit varied food resources and the increasing tendency to re-occupy sites year after year in a seasonal transhumant settlement pattern. The nearest manifestation of Western Arr_haic cultures to the study area is found in Dinosaur National Monument. An extensive survey and exca~.~::r'~~~n program conducted in the Monument by David A. Breternitz pro- duced Archaic levels in some sites dating as early as 9,000 to 8,000 B.P. Breternitz makes specific reference to a McKean occupation in Deluge Shelter (1970:162) and to early manifestations at several. other sites but is re- luctant to relate them specifically to Western Archaic occupations to the west in Utah and suggest relationships with the High Plains as well. The relatively great variety of life zones in the study area leads one to the conclusion that the area was particularl}~ suited for the seasonal, intensive exploitative pattern of Western Archaic cultures. • The terminal date of A.D. 1976 for the Western Archaic in western