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a <br />The Archaic stage, dated from 5,500 B.C. to A.D. 500, is represented in the <br />archaeological record of West Central Colorado in much greater frequency than the <br />previous Paleoindian stage. Within this stage, big game hunting decreases and <br />is replaced by an increase of collecting and processing of plant resources along <br />with the exploitation of smaller game animals. <br />The formative stage in West Central Colorado dates between A.D. 500 and <br />1200. The hallmarks of this stage include the introduction of cultigens, <br />ceramics, and substantial structures. All of these variables are rare in West <br />Central Colorado, and when found, assigning cultural affiliation is difficult. <br />Due to the rarity of Formative stage indicators, it has been suggested the <br />Formative stage lifeways may not have been as developed in the West Central <br />Colorado area as in other regions (Reed 1984:3). <br />', The Proto-Historic/Historic stage is characterized by the absence of <br />Formative stage representatives (cultigens, ceramic, and substantial structures) <br />and a return to a subsistence economy based on hunting and gathering. The Ute <br />~ entered the region during this stage between A.D. 1200 and 1400. They resided <br />in the area a short time, as they were banished from the area in 1881 (Reed <br />1984:4). <br />The Eura-American Tradition began when the first Euro-Americans entered <br />into West Central Colorado with the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition in 1776. <br />Greater numbers of people came into the area with the fur trade in the early <br />1800s, and a flood of newcomers descended on the region during the Gold Rush of <br />1859. In the 1880s, the first railroad went through the area, and cattlemen <br />I began to saturate the region (Mehls 1982). <br />For a more complete synthesis of the West Central Colorado prehistory and <br />history, see Guthrie et al. (1984), Reed (1984), and Mehls (1982. 1984). The <br />Yoast Mine area has the potential to contain cultural resources from all stages <br />discussed. <br />Statement of Ob.iective <br />A 1009: inventory of the project area was conducted to locate and evaluate <br />cultural resources. When cultural materials were located, appropriate procedures <br />for their documentation were completed, including recording on OAHP forms, making <br />a site sketch map, and photographing the site. Expectations for discovering <br />prehistoric cultural resources in the higher elevations were poor, as ground <br />visibility was very poor due to thick vegetation. Potential for discovering <br />historic cultural resources was much greater because buildings or ruins often <br />rise well above the thick vegetation. <br />Expectations for discovering cultural resources in the lower elevations of <br />the proposed Yoast Mine area were high. Visibility within the sagebrush <br />community was good, as was visibility in the vicinity of creeks or intermittent <br />drainages. Permanent water sources within the lower sagebrush communities <br />include Grassy Creek on the eastern border of the project area and Sage Creek to <br />the west. The area also supports a wide range of flora and fauna, indicating a <br />highly probable environment for hunter-gatherer groups. <br />• <br /> <br />