PERMFILE111168 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~'~' 2 2 period are identified by the presence of blue glass trade beads, side-notched projectile points, grinding stones, and lithic debitage (Bair 1977). I' After A. D. 1860 abori anal g' groups are replaced by Euro- Americans. The major themes of this historic stage are treated the next section. storic Themes Euro-American presence in western North America is extremely short compared to that of prehistoric cultures discussed in the previous section. The brevity of this occupational episode is not, however, directly indicative of its importance to the regional culture history. Historical events which transpired in the area and surrounding regions helped to shape the character of the modern communities. Understanding the causes and effects of these events has benefits equal in importance to conclusions drawn from the prehistoric record. Indeed, history may help us understand prehistory since historical records can tell us ~Y events occurred in addition to the when and ghat which we usually get from archaeological endeavors. The historic period can be divided into time blocks oP varying duration which are identified with descriptive terms. The major events which occurred during the years encompassed within each _, block are discussed. This summary is derived primarily froth Hurray's (1979) historical overview of the Raton Basin oP Colorado, augmented by information from Mehls and Carter (1984) and Pearce (1988). Exploratory Period (1706-1822) ~: , ~'- The Spanish were active in surrounding regions as early as 1541, but took no interest in the Raton Basin until the 1700s. In L, August 1706, Captain Juan de Ulibarri reached the Arkansas River ~'~__: near Pueblo. His reconnaissance mission did not, however extend any further. Other Spanish expeditions which roamed the general area at this time had been commissioned to control marauding L- Indian groups such as the Apaches, Comanches, Utes, and Pawnees. In the fall of 1779, a military expedition oP 600, commissioned by the New Mexico governor Juan Bautista de Anza, traveled into the Raton Basin with the specific objective of subduing the Comanches. The Spanish were modestly successful in these endeavors, their success partially attributable to their ability to exploit the cultural antagonisms between two or more aboriginal groups. American presence in the region dfd not occur until 1806 when Zebulon Pike reached the upper Arkansas River near Pueblo. Pike's party was later captured by the Spanish and all maps and records were taken from them; Pike retained only his diary.