2001-12-11_PERMIT FILE - C1980005 (3)

Home Browse Search

variety of source: materials have been used to construct Table 3 and they • are appropriately identified. It is interesting to note that only half of the identified. plant species are suitable for hLmian ~nsumption yet better than 80~ of the plants are attractive to mule deer. This observa- tion is ~nsisten.t with available evidence on local faunal distributions. lacking direct evidence, i.e. bones recovered fran test excavations, of the types of fauna available to, and exploited by, the prehistoric in- habitants of SKP139, we must make inferences fran present-day populations. Table 4 lists all species of mammals that occur presently in the vicinity of the site. Fach animal is identified by its ~mnn and species name, the seasonality and frequency of occurrence, and preferred habitat type. Bird, fish, and reptile species are not ~nsidered here because of their assured laa importance in the diet of the prehistoric inhabitants. Bison has not been included because of its present-day absence in the area but it quite likely inhabited the region in prehistoric times. The Soil • Conservation Service (1975) has determined that the wildlife of high importance on the Nbuntain Loam Fange Site (which includes tre Splitm Loam soil series) is bison, deer, and elk, with antelope and ~ttontail having median i.mportanoe. Available data on deer and elk seasonal distri- butions (Bureau of Land Management, 1976) disclose that the winter range of elk and both the suRner range and critical winter range of deer occur within a fea miles to the south and west of SKP139. These distributions mould likely have occurred faz enough north in prehistoric times to encompass the area surrounding SF1C139. The most cogent conclusion that can be drawn fran this discussion of faunal resources is that the exploitation of deer and/or elk was probably the primary motivation for the prehistoric cccupation of SIZP139. • 12