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multiple origins (polythetic). The resolution of this problem • <br />can only occur after a precise understanding of the techno- <br />logical development: that took place in the transition from <br />late Paleo-Indian t:o the Historic period has been reached. <br />Recovery of datable material from the Steamboat area, as <br />well as from the surrounding region would represent a <br />major contribution to this effort. Without a regional. <br />understanding, the discussion of Plains-Great Basin rela- <br />tionships remains only in the realm of speculation. <br />Another problem, which has been discussed by several <br />authors, but not elaborated upon, is settlement pattern or <br />site location. Sites have been found to be located in passes, <br />saddles, and sage flats above water, with the unifying attri- <br />bute of proximity to water. An avoidance of northern exposures <br />and of grades greater than 50% has also been noted (Arthur <br />1977; McNamara 1978; Ward-Williams 1976). These charac- <br />teristics have been discovered in different topographic <br />situations, such as the Routt National Forest and the Yampa • <br />.Basin. <br />A profitable regional research orientation would be <br />one that focused on site types, settlement patterns, and <br />environmental and topographic relationships through time. <br />Such an orientation would isolate important variables and <br />allow for development of preliminary explanations of pre- <br />historic adaptation in the region. <br />A further question that has been raised in the liter- <br />ature is the presence of Paleo-Indian material in northwestern <br />Colorado. Pa1eo-Indian projectile points have been dis- <br />covered as isolated finds, but no definite Paleo-Indian <br />site has been recorded. Buckles (1971) considers reuse <br />of Pa1eo-Indian artifacts a characteristic of an Archaic <br />complex on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Surface finds can <br />then be considered either as evidence of Archaic transport of <br />Paleo-Indian artifacts, or evidence of Paleo-Indian presence • <br />in the area. This problem can only be addressed by the <br />20 <br />