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r <br />~' <br />f <br />• <br />expected to have existed throughout the past 10,000 years, There <br />18 no evidence of significant Landform alteration during this time. <br />Therefore, site density is expected to be low in the areas immediately <br />south of Somerset, including those areas investigated during the <br />course of this survey. <br />This a riori assumption is partially supported by the result <br />• <br />of the reconnaissance. Materials evidencing prehistoric occupation <br />were not found. This may be in part the result of the topograptic <br />characteristics of the specific areas investigated. Most of these <br />localities are located on active flood plains along [he perimeters <br />of Sylvester Gulch or the North Fork Gunnison River, or on broad <br />benches overlooking these drainages. In both areas, alluvation is <br />also accompanied by a certain amount of deflation which should <br />disclose [he presence of these materials if present. Therefore, <br />their noted absence is considered to be primarily accountable to <br />the former hypothesis, [hat geographic constraints upon human <br />mobility served to discourage significant instances of prehistoric <br />occupation. <br />RECONNAISSANCE t~THODOLOGY <br />All areas of potential"impact were examined by linear traverses <br />• <br />from a point of origin arbitrarily chosen on the basis of vehicular <br />access, to the terminus. All areas in the immediate vicinity of <br />impact localities were similarly investigated if local slope did <br />not exceed 207.. Slope values in excess of 207. are considered too <br />er.treme to encourage occupation or retain evidence of it as the <br />result of down-slope movement of surface materials. <br />13 <br />