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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> Previous archaeological research in the general vicinity <br /> of the Nucla Mine Study area has yielded a rich inventory of <br /> archaeological sites (Copeland: 1978, 1979) . Copeland (1978 : <br /> 36) briefly summarized human occupation of the Naturita- <br /> Nucla area in stating: <br /> . . it can be said that an extended use of <br /> the area by a variety of peoples is evident. <br /> The least understood and barely documented <br /> are the Paleo-Indian traditions. Considerably <br /> more apparent are sites which exhibit Archaic <br /> manifestations though the majority cannot <br /> or have not been placed, within a temporal <br /> perspective at this time. Evidence for <br /> Fremont and Anasazi occupation is well docu- <br /> mented, but their use of the area is apparently <br /> of a limited nature. * Navajo occupation is <br /> seemingly apparent in the La Sal Mountains <br /> and Utes are known to have occupied the entire <br /> area at least during historic times; but <br /> generally speaking, the evidence for these <br /> peoples in an archaeological context is meager . <br /> Euroamerican occupation was generally centered <br /> on homesteading and mining with agriculture, <br /> stock raising, mining and other geophysical <br /> exploration activities dominating the region <br /> at this time. <br /> Sites 5MN1257 and 5MN1258 have been called aboriginal <br /> open campsites (see Glossary) due to their artifact assem- <br /> blages consisting of both ground and chipped stone; this <br /> suggests that the site areas were inhabited by men, women, <br /> and children. Manos and metates (see Glossary) are grinding <br /> tools used by women of the group in food processing while <br /> chipped stone indicates a hunting/butchering technology <br /> employed by the men. No evidence of ceramics was found on <br /> the site which might indicate that the site is preceramic <br /> in age. No evidence of firepits or structural features was <br /> found. <br /> Site 5MN1258 did yield several cores and primary flakes <br /> indicating the utilization of raw lithic (stone) materials <br /> *The terms Archaic, Anasazi, Fremont and Paleo-Indian are found <br /> in the Glossary. <br /> 11 i;Pfi c l9$® <br />