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• The precise origin of the Ute people is uncertain, but it is known <br />that Shoshonean peoples made their appearance in the Great Basin at the <br />end of the Fremont-Sevier-Virgin period. Their pottery has been found <br />in association with Fremont pottery at several sites in Utah (Jennings <br />1978: 235). It is speculated that the Shoshone-speakers either moved into <br />the Great Basin as the horticulturalist groups dispersed, or were such <br />horticulturists who reverted to a hunting and gathering subsistence. In <br />any case, linguistic studies indicate the Ute arrived in southwestern <br />Colorado around A.D. 1300 (ibid.). Evidence of their early material cul- <br />ture is scant, however, and most of wrat we know of the Utes comes from <br />the period after Historic contact. <br />The Utes were semi-nomadic and were grouped into bands organized <br />around family units, seasonally hunting and gathering in roughly defined <br />territories. Interband contacts (during the spring months) and marriages <br />helped to maintain linguistic unity. The Utes utilized rockshelters, <br />wickiups, and later, four-po]e center support tipis. Associated with the <br />• Ute culture are samll corner- and side-notched projectile points, crude <br />grey ware and brown ware ceramics fired at low temperatures, basketry and <br />other woven materials (usually matting), grinding and milling stones, <br />wickiups and other brush structures, and later, glass beads, metal pro- <br />jectile points, and other metal objects for personal adornment (Buckles <br />1971; Reed and Scott 1980; Smith 1974). Ute rock art is prevalent in west <br />central Colorado and usually depicts horses, mounted riders, mountain sheep, <br />deer, elk, and bear (Conner and Ott 1979). <br />The acquisition of the horse effected a demonstrative change .in the <br />economic and social lives of the Utes because firearms usually accompanied <br />the acquisition of the horse (Smith 1974: 19). The Moache and Capote bands <br />of Ute acquired the horse possibly as early as 1640 in the Santa Fe -- Taos <br />area by trading slaves or stealing (ibid: 19,30). Use of the horse soon <br />spread northward to the Tabeguache (Uncompahgre) and the Sabuagana (Yampa- <br />White River) bands. <br />. For more than two centruies, the Colorado Utes enjoyed a relatively <br />prosperous and secure existence. :After acquiring horses and weapons"from <br />18 <br />