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CIILTIIRAL BACKGROUND <br />PREVIOUS RESEARCH <br />Based on a review of the pertinent literature and files, little previous fieldwork has been <br />accomplished in the vicinity of the project area (see Arthur 1977), although some data <br />have been acquired recently through energy-related and National Forest cultural <br />resource inventories. <br />Arthur (1977) conducted a survey of several coal leases in Routt and yloCfatt counties for <br />the Laboratory of Public Archaeology (LOPA). This survey located seven sites near the <br />study area (SRTl6, ~RT17, 5RT19, SRT20, SRT??, 5RT33, and SRT25). The survey <br />produced i<4iddle and Late Archaic material with both Plains (Duncan-Hanna) and Great <br />Basin (Elko) affiliations. The Duncan-Hanna material occurred as isolated finds although <br />a \liddle Archaic camp was also noted. In the course of the survey, some "Fremont-like" <br />material was discovered on several open sites with evidence of Archaic-like subsistence <br />patterns. Architectural sites with evidence of horticulture typical of Fremont material <br />were lacking. S9ith the exception of occasional finds by amateurs in adjacent areas, <br />Paleo-Indian materials were also absent. <br />L~ summary, utilization of the Yampa Basin was found to begin around 7000 B.P. with <br />relationships to the Plains area, though some material is similar to that of the Great <br />Basin. (\7iddle Archaic material was found in an open camp, showing a subsistence <br />pattern of generalized hunting and gathering by a fair-sized group. Fremont material <br />vras found in both open camps and lithic workshop sites, evidencing a generalized hunting <br />and gathering lifestyle similar to the Archaic. No post-Fremont material or historic <br />aboriginal sites were recorded in Routt County. Sites were found to occur in drainage <br />basins on small eminences overlooking a drainage. <br />Linda 1Vard-IVilliams and Michael Foster (1976) reported on a survey performed in Routt <br />National Forest, outside the project area. Sixteen prehistoric sites were recorded; seven <br />are in the vicinity o£ passes and all but one are on a terrace or adjacent to a terrace. Six <br />are on saddles, usually bridging two drainages; three are on terraces (in addition to the <br />six on terraces near passes); and one is near a trail. <br /> <br />11 <br />