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• Evidence of Desert Archaic material was found in the form of an isolated Elko-eared <br />projectile point. Reference was also made to earlier material in other areas. Woodland <br />and Late Fremont-like material was recovered, as was Desert and/or Plains side-notched <br />material. <br />Common factors in site location were found to be proximity to water and smallness of <br />sites. The latter probably indicates short-term occupation. The largest amount of <br />material was discovered at pass and saddle locations, and this exhibited the heaviest <br />wear. Least likely areas of site location are north-facing slopes with a 509'0 or larger <br />grade and homogeneous topography. A possibility is the utilization of the Yampa Basin <br />as a route from the Great Basin to the Plains, and that if contact between these culture <br />areas took place, this is one of the most likely areas. <br />Foster (1976) recorded two sites in the Routt National Forest, representing short-term <br />use as hunting comps or migration camps. No diagnostic material was recovered from <br />the sites, bvt a late Woodland projectile point and a potsherd of protohistoric to historic <br />age were recovered. The potsherd was probably Ute. No sites were discovered in for- <br />ested areas. <br />McNamara (1978) reports on coal lease surveys to the east of the study area. One ab- <br />original site and two isolated finds were recorded. No diagnostic material was located. <br />The Trout Creek area is characterized as exhibiting a general paucity of cultural re- <br />sources. This is attributed to the presence of more favorable locations or the presence <br />of heavy ground cover, which obscures the sites. <br />Kranzush and Gordon recorded a rock art and possible rock shelter site just to the north <br />of the study area. The rock art is provisionally identified as UTe. <br />To summarize this previous research, material from the Archaic through protohistoric or <br />historic has been recovered. Sites are open camps, lithic workshops, and rock shelter/ <br />rock art, generally located near passes or saddles, sage flats above drainages, or in shel- <br />ters above drainages. North-facing slopes exhibit a lock of aboriginal occupation. A <br />proximity to water appears to be a controlling factor in site location. Futhermore, <br />• material from the Plains and the Great Basin has been recorded, indicating that the <br />Yampa Basin saw utilization by groups from both areas, and may be a major route be- <br />tween the two areas. <br />5-10 <br />