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The Dolores River of southwestern Colorado traverses a variety of ecological zones, presenting prehistoric inhabitants with a variety of subsistence possibilities and resources. In addition to crossing ecological zones, different archaeological zones are encountered. In traditional terms three archaeological cultures may be seen: the Anasazi, the Fremont, and the Uncompahgre Complex or Archaic. Data from archaeological survey conducted in 1975 of a portion of the Dolores Canyon is presented and used as a basis for discussion of archaeology on the river. Three main kinds of data are presented: site information which indicates that a substantial portion of the sites may be other than living sites; artifact data, the artifacts being almost all lithic and indicative mainly of hunting and gathering; and rock art, which shows similarity to the greater Southwest with some elements present purported to be more culturally specific. Chronological control is minimal, but a long range, fairly stable use of the section of river under discussion is apparent. A general similarity of tool kits and site location strategy is noted, as is the appropriateness of canyoñ for hunting and gathering. On the basis of this finding it is proposed that the cultural adaptations present be considered more continuous than discrete. In this regard the concept of a technocomplex with some regional variation conditioned by environmental possibilities is thought useful. The surveys and other work show the Dolores to have considerable archaeological potential and, fittingly, more questions are raised than answered.
Archaeologist Steve Cassells details the prehistory of Colorado from the Paleo-Indian mammoth and bison hunters through the Archaic, Fremont, and Plains Woodland peoples to the Anasazi of the southwest and the historic Utes and Plains Indians. The author draws on unpublished reports, personal communications, and echaustive research in the printed literature to make this a book in which specialists will find new and exciting material. Significant sites from every cultural stage and every part of the state are examined, and an "Archaeological Scrapbook" presents thumbnail sketches of many of the colorful and significant archaeologists who have influenced the development of the science in the state.
"The two reports published here contain elements which contribute substantially to this broader spectrum of Southwestern cultural change. While primarily descriptive in nature, these two site reports, one from the western Kayenta area and one from the margin of the Mesa Verde area and the eastern Kayenta, suggest that the changes which occurred in the more centralized portions of these regions were directly related to what happened on the margins. That, while the site densities and population aggregates may not have been as high, the same factors affected these marginal areas. That conclusion could be expected, but what may not be expected is the differential response which appears to have occurred. After reading these two reports, it appears that it may be possible to discern elements of change in these fringe areas that, once defined, will provide new insight into what happened and why and in what are presently the better known areas of the Southwest. These two papers are important, in sum, not only because they are reports of work in poorly known areas, but because they do provide analyses of fringe areas, they help us to understand the Southwest generally"--From preliminary introduction.