Mitigative Archaeological Excavations at Two Sites for the Cottonwood Pass Project, Chaffee and Gunnison Counties, Colorado

摘要

Archaeological excavations were conducted at two prehistoric camp sites in the central Colorado mountains, in order to mitigate potential impacts from construction upgrading the present road bed of Colorado Forest Highway 59 over Cottonwood Pass. The project area is between Taylor Park in northeastern Gunnison County and Buena Vista in central Chaffee County, traversing the Continental Divide. Excavations revealed hunter-gatherer occupations between 4000-1000 BP with peak use ca. 2650-2350 BP, and lengthy camp activity over the past 10,000 years. Paleo-Indian, Archaic and post-Archaic period occupations are recognized, including significant Early Archaic components at ca. 8840-7740 BP. Lithic technology of the Early Archaic assemblage is distinct from contemporaneous Paleo-Indian materials, and a Great Basin origin is postulated. Both excavated sites are National Register properties which contain large areas undisturbed by road improvements.