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-31- <br />density between the two bottomlands was relatively low but one of the sites <br />• located on a high terrace on the left bank of the Yampa, SMF462, consisted <br />of a relatively high density of debitage including fragments of at least <br />4 bifacially flaked artifacts. The nature of the artifact material collected <br />differs significantly from the other Yampa River sites recorded, indicating <br />that different kinds of activities were carried on there. <br />A third cluster of three sites (SPiF430, 431, and 432) occurs on the <br />second terrace system above the left bank of the Williams Fork about 2~ <br />miles south of its confluence with the Yampa. The bottomlands there are <br />no more extensive than farther downstream where no sites occur but the <br />location also affords some degree of access to the top of Iles Mountain. <br />4.5.2 The Iles Mountain Escarpment <br />A high site density was encountered at the west end of the Iles <br />Mountain escarpment. These sites are located on the middle and upper <br />reaches of the colluvial ridges that extend southward from the base of the <br />escarpment and include sites SMF408, 415 through 420, and 422. The site <br />pair of SMF408 and 418 exemplifies the pattern observed in the area. SMF408, <br />which contained evidence of at least 11 hearths with a number of associated <br />• flakes, shaped artifacts and the potsherds described in the previous section, <br />is located within the juniper cover that extends down from the top of Iles <br />Mountain. SMF418 is located several hundred meters dawn the same ridge at the <br />transition point between the juniper and sagebrush communities. No hearths <br />and a lower concentration of artifacts were observed at that site. Although <br />there is no definite evidence to support the hypothesis, it is suggested <br />that site pairs such as SMF408 and 418 were occupied by the same cultural <br />group but that different activities were carried out at each site. SMF418 _ <br />appears to represent a habitation site where a variety of domestic activities <br />were carried out. The juniper cover would have provided some measure of <br />protection from the elements. The lower .site, however, offers a more unre- <br />stricted view of the Axial Basin to the south and may represent a chipping <br />station. <br />The SMF408 artifact inventory includes both projectile points and <br />several manos and other grinding stones that were most probably used to <br />process plant foods. This combination of artifacts indicates that both <br />hunting and plant gathering activities were engaged in by inhabitants of the <br />• escarpment sites. The sites are in an ideal location for such activities, <br />since they afford easy access to both the pinyon pine - juniper community of <br />Iles rountain and the large game that most probably ranged the Axial Basin. <br />