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The earliest remains discovered t.n the area consisted of an isolated Elko eared projectile <br />point. LVoodland and Late Fremont-like material was recovered, as was Desert Archaic • <br />and/or Plains side-notched material. <br />Common factors in site variabilil:y were found to be proximity to water and smallness of <br />sites. The latter probably indicates short-term occupation. The most abundant and most <br />heavily utilized material was discovered at pass and saddle locations. Least likely areas <br />for sites were found to be north-facing slopes with a 5096 or greater grade and <br />homogeneous topography. Due to the relative ease of travel, it is possible the Yampa <br />Basin was a route bet~.veen, or a~~ area of cultural contact between the Great Basin and <br />the Plains. <br />Faster (1976) recorded two short-term hunting or migration campsites in the Routt <br />National Forest north of Steamboat Sorin~s. .1 Late LVoodland projectile point and a <br />probable Ute ootsherd of protohistoric to historic age were recovered. No sites were <br />discovered in forested areas. <br />\lcNamara (1978) reports on coal lease surveys about 9.6 miles to the southeast of the <br />project area (Map 1). One aboriginal site and two isolated finds were recorded. No • <br />diagnostic material was located. Tlie 'stout Creek area is characterized as exhibiting a <br />general Qaucity oC cultural resources. This is attributed to the presence of snore <br />favorable locations elsewhere or the presence of heavy ground cover which inay obscure <br />the sites in McNamara's survey area. <br />]iranzush and Gordon (n.d.) recorded SI1Ti18, a rock art and possible rock shelter site <br />just to the west of the project area •.vitliin the buffer zone of the Seneca I1-W Mine of <br />Seneca Costs (Vtap 1). The rock art is provisionally identified as Ute. <br />To summarize this previous research, material from the Archaic through protohistoric or <br />historic periods has been recovered from the vicinity of the survey area. Sites consist of <br />open camps, lithic •,uorkshops, and rock shelter/rock art locations, generally located near <br />posses or saddles, sage flats above drainages, or in shelters above drainages. North- <br />facing slopes generally lack aboriginal occupations. Proximity to water appears to be a <br />controlling factor in site location. Furthermore, material from the Plains and the Great <br />Basin has been recorded, indicating, tlutt the 5'ampa Basin sew utilization by groups from <br />both areas, and may be s major route between the two areas. • <br />12 <br />