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` 3 largely composed of shales, claystones, sandstones and major coal beds. Occasionally, Upper Tertiary intrusive rocks are visible protruding from the sedimentary bedrocks (Tweto 1979). Soils in the area are highly variable. The soils differ with vegetation communities and elevation. High elevation soils are often dark brown, large-grained, sandy looms, with high humus content in the upper horizons. Lower elevation soils are lighter in color and contain much more silt and very little or no humus. The area is dominated by two vegetation communities, the Oak-Shrubland community and the Sagebrush community. Higher elevations are occupied by the Oak-Shrubland community. This community is dominated by gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), Rocky Mountain maple (Ater glabrum), and curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius). Trees found in association with these shrubs include aspen (Populus tremu]oides), limber pine (Pious flexilis), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Vegetation of the Oak-Shrubland community is often very thick and dense, therefore visibility is often very poor. The Sagebrush community is found in the lower elevations of the project area. Dominant shrubs include low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Many species of grasses and fortis accompany the shrubs, including western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), wildrye (Elymus cinereus), and tansy mustard (Descurainis Sophia). Visibility within this community is highly variable ranging from 50Y • to 907.. Generally ground surface visibility was good, but ranged to poor at times in densely vegetated areas. Existing Data and Literature Review A file search was conducted through the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) in Denver on August 11, 1992, which revealed ten previous surveys in the nearby areas. Eight surveys were block surveys, five under 30 acres and three large surveys over 200 acres. The large surveys include the Rockcastle Coal Company Mine Permit conducted by Kalia Archaeological Services covering 200 acres south of the project area, the Hayden Gore Pass 345 KV Transmission Line conducted by Grand River Institute covering 1,454 acres east of the study area, and the Yoast Coal Mine conducted by Western Cultural Resource Management, Inc. covering 1,413 acres south of the study area. These surveys resulted in the discovery of five prehistoric sites and two historic sites. All prehistoric sites are categorized as lithic scatters. Both historic sites are categorized as homesteads. None of these sites are located within the study area. The West Central Colorado Prehistory is classified in five stages. Paleoindian, Archaic, Formative, Proto-Historic/Historic and the Euro-Americ.n Tradition (Guthrie et al. 1984; Reed 1984). The Paleoindian stage dates from 10,000 to 5,500 B.C. and is usually represented in the form of isolated finds and occasionally associated with early prehistoric sites. The Paleoindian stage is • characterized by the hunting of extinct megafauna and other large game. These activities are often represented in the archaeological record by unique, large projectile points.