Laserfiche WebLink
Protohistoric Era <br />The apparent end of the Formative Era (although the Fremont Tradition may have <br />extended until ca. AD 1500) in the region is roughly coincident with the drought of AD 1275- <br />1300 and the ensuing influx of people from the Southwest into the Great Basin and Colorado <br />Plateau. The newcomers, now assumed to be the Utes, were— and are— part of a larger group <br />of Numic Speakers (Shoshonean) of the Uto Aztecan language phylum (Smith 1974:10). <br />Linguists are fairly certain that the Numic speakers were in southwestern Colorado by AD <br />1300. Their appearance in the Fremont territory ca. AD 1200 is based on finds of Shoshone <br />pottery mixed with the upper strata of Fremont artifacts in many cave sites in Utah (Jennings <br />1978:235). Unfortunately, evidence of their early cultural material is scant, which precludes <br />a precise description of their lifeway. <br />Potential diagnostics of the Ute occupation in northwestern Colorado are Desert Side - <br />notched variants with basal notches, or small side - notched points having a concave base, and <br />the narrow unnotched points referred to as Cottonwood Triangular. Two single component <br />sites found in west -central Colorado and east - central Utah containing these point types have <br />been dated. Site 42GR2236, an open campsite located near Moab, yielded a date of ca AD <br />1280 (Reed 1990). Desert Side - notched and Cottonwood projectile points were also found at <br />the Pioneer Point Site located in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, Uncompahgre <br />Brownware ceramics (micaceous and non - micaceous tempered) were also recovered and <br />dated. Over seven hundred sherds were recovered. These were associated with features <br />dating ca. AD 1476, 474±70 Bp, and AD 1466, 484±80 BP (Dial 1989:19). Metal points were a <br />fairly recent addition to the projectile types and probably do not date earlier than the 1800's. <br />Campsites that the Utes occupied within the past 100 to 200 years may have remains <br />of small tepees and wickiups. A more permanent cultural manifestation of the Utes is their <br />rock art, which adorns many canyon walls, caves and boulders in the region. Additional <br />discussion of the Historic Ute occupation of the region is found in the following section. <br />Historic Background <br />The following section provides background information on the early Euro - American <br />exploration and settlement of the area. This includes details concerning the early explorers, <br />ftir trappers, settlers of the region, transportation and mining. <br />Historic Aboriginal Habitation <br />Northwestern Colorado was used by various Indian groups in the historic period. The <br />Red Desert, Laramie Plains, North Park, and the plains of the east via Middle and South <br />Parks provided access to various Indian groups. The presence of Ute Indians in northwestern <br />Colorado is well documented. "The Ute formerly occupied the entire central and western <br />portion of Colorado." (Swanton 1953:372). The Bannock and Shoshoni roamed over the <br />6 <br />