2011-07-28_PERMIT FILE - M2011029

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The appearance of the Archaic Era reflects a shift in the availability of food resources caused by climatic changes at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. This shift is apparently responsible for a transition from a hunting/mobile subsistence pattern to a hunting - gathering/semi- sedentary one, based upon the more current species of flora and fauna. In Colorado's central mountains, the disappearance of the Cody Complex (Middle Paleoindian Period) is followed by a distinct Archaic Lifeway that may have developed in situ, as small scale immigration from adjacent areas, or as long - distance immigration (Black 1986:201). Black refers to this as the Mountain Tradition. Diagnostic artifacts from the earliest Archaic Era [Pioneer period] sites to those dating near the middle of that Era [early Settlement Period, dating roughly between 6500 to 3500 Bc] include Pinto Series points, Gatecliff Split -stem points, and Mount Albion Complex points. From that time until about 1000 BC [end of the Transitional Period], a variety of large side- and corner- notched points, and the lanceolate - style McKean Complex and Humboldt Concave types (many of these exhibit grinding along the stem) are often found on local sites. The most recent period of the Archaic Era [Terminal Period] dates from about 1000 BC to possibly about 400 BC and could extend as late as AD 200 in west - central Colorado. A deeply corner - notched point similar to the Pelican Lake type from the Northern Plains is characteristic of this period, as are San Rafael Stemmed points, and the large contracting stem points that are collectively called Gatecliff Contracting Stem types. Formative Era The Formative Era from 400 BC - AD 1300 (as defined by Reed and Metcalf 1999:6) is represented by the Fremont, Anasazi/Ancestral Puebloan, Gateway, and Aspen Traditions. The Fremont Tradition people are likely the most represented in the region and may have occupied it from ca. AD 200 -1500; but there remain many unanswered questions concerning the Fremont. It is generally agreed, however, that various horticulturalist (Formative) groups— possibly of diverse origins and languages, but sharing similar material traits and subsistence strategies— occupied selected areas in Utah and western Colorado during that time. The local Formative Era groups adopted many of the Anasazi traits, yet remained distinct in several characteristics including a one - rod - and - bundle basketry construction style, a moccasin style, trapezoidal shaped clay figurines and rock art figures, as well as a gray coiled pottery (Madsen 1989:9 -11). The Fremont apparently retained many Archaic subsistence strategies, such as relying more on the gathering of wild plants and having less dependence than the Anasazi on domesticated ones— corn, beans, and squash. However, maize horticulture was practiced by the Fremont in selected areas throughout the region, as indicated by excavations in east central Utah and west - central Colorado (Barlow 2002; Hauck 1993; Madsen 1979; Wormington 1956). On the southern Uncompahgre Plateau, although radiocarbon data from Formative Era sites are fairly evenly distributed in that area, ten sites with corn and/or squash remains have been dated and indicate their use within two distinct times, ca. 200 BC to AD 500 and ca. AD 900 -1100 (Reed and Gebauer 2004:83). 5