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Section 3 Special Considerations and Triygering Mechanism for the Plan The rock shelter site (Figures 1 and Appendix I} designated 5DT700, is currently only provisionally designated as a cultural resource. When found during the field inventory, there were no cultural materials evident at the surface. In keeping with a general philosophy among regional archaeologists, however, this feature was considered to have a very high probability of possessing cultural deposits reflecting prehistoric utilization of the feature as an occupational shelter. Such features are generally referred to as "rock shelters" by archaeologists and, similar to true cave deposits, are considered to have among the highest potentials for yielding truly important data on prehistoric lifeways (see Buckles 1971; Reed 1984; Reed and Nickens 1980; Gooding and Shields 1985; Wormington and Lister 1956). This is because of the frequent long occupation of such sites. This frequently results in a deep and old stratigraphic record which can provide a long chronological record on the human occupation and environment of a region. Sites such as this are scarce, particularly in the North Fork Country where 5DT700 is believed to be the first such site recorded to date. Also, such resources, when finally found by the archaeologists, have too often been vandalized to the point that they are useless for archaeological purposes. This rock shelter (5DT700) was the only such feature recorded in the Colorado Westmoreland study area (Baker 1984). It has a southerly exposure and offers a good vantage point overlooking Terror Creek. There is water close by in Terror Creek as well as numerous seeps and springs in the near vicinity (Baker 1984). Thus, if there is a sheltered prehistoric archaeological site in the area, it will probably prove to be at 5DT700. The rock forming the shelter is, however, an extremely friable sandstone and it is reasonable to believe that any cultural deposits associated with the rock overhang may be sealed beneath a substantial layer of sand accumulated through erosion of the overhang. For these reasons, it was not possible to observe any cultural remains even if they exist. In the final report (Baker 1984:72) and site form, the resource was only indicated as a potential cultural resource since there was no direct evidence of prehistoric occupation found. During the course of compliance review of Centuries' report (Baker 1984), the State Archaeologist of Colorado Office became concerned about the formal designation of this resource and indicated to Centuries that the designation 5DT700 might not be allowed to stand (Beyer 1985}. It was indicated that the resources designation might be withdrawn unless proof of prehistoric occupation or the presence of-paleo environmental data could be demonstrated. It was eventually agreed that the features designation as 5DT700 would be allowed to stand until test excavation either confirmed or denied its standing as a cultural or paleo environmental resource. It was against this background that 5DT700 was apparently evaluated by OSM and determined to be the only cultural resource in CWI's study -4-