5MT4545 (Site Name Keyword)

PROJECT Robert A. Bye. Christine K. Robinson. David A. Breternitz. Allen E. Kane. Steven E. James. Timothy A. Kohler. William D. Lipe. Bureau of Reclamation.

From 1978 until 1985 the University of Colorado contracted with the Bureau of Reclamation (Contract No. 8-07-40-S0562) to mitigate the adverse impact of a large water impoundment project on the cultural resources in the project area. This complex and evolving long-term mitigation plan known as the Dolores Archaeological Program (DAP) has been called a “truly unique chapter in American archaeology” (Breternitz 1993:118) and was applauded by Lipe (1998:2) for its ability to “increase the power and...

DOCUMENT Full-Text David H. Greenwald.

The Sagehen Flats Locality is 1 of 16 localities contained within the Escalante Sector. It is located in southwest Colorado approximately 6 km northwest of Dolores, Colorado. The Sagehen Flats Locality differs from surrounding localities in that it is an area of gentle slopes and small knolls. Its drainages feed the Sagehen Marsh, which eventually drains into the Dolores River to the east. The first prehistoric use of this area has been dated to the Archaic Tradition (5000 B.C.-A .D. 500)...

DOCUMENT Full-Text Joel M. Brisbin.

Tres Bobos, Site 5MT4545, is a small Basketmaker III habitation in extreme southwestern Colorado, near the present town of Dolores. Excavations discovered one pithouse, 14 noncontiguous surface rooms, and numerous ancillary features. The number and spatial distribution of the surface rooms in two discreet areas around the single pithouse indicate that there were two occupations centered around the pithouse. The differential spatial configuration of these room sets and the well-developed...

DOCUMENT Full-Text Louisa B. Flander.

Analysis of human skeletal remains from 1978 and 1979 excavations and the 1978 survey is presented. At least 26 individuals from 14 sites are represented in the collections. None of the remains analyzed indicate that any of the individuals represented were in poor health. The fragmentary nature of the remains makes it impossible to draw any more definite conclusions concerning the health of the prehistoric population. Sex and age determinants follow standard procedures, i.e., conservative...

DOCUMENT Full-Text Bruce F. Benz. Vickie L. Clay.

The Environmental Studies Group has completed laboratory and field studies that serve as a comparisons for projections back in time. These include maps that inventory the present day bedrock geology, landforms, soils stream orders, and present and potential-natural vegetation. Two experimental gardens provide case studies of the potential of subsistence agriculture in the Dolores Archaeological Project area under present day conditions. Analysis to date of geological, faunal, and floral...

DOCUMENT Full-Text J. Holly Hathaway.

The 1980 archaeomagnetic sampling program involved the recovery of 59 archaeomagnetic samples from 13 archaeological sites excavated by the Dolores Archaeological Program. In addition, 12 samples were collected from 12 experimental hearths located within the project area. Based on the 1979 DAP refinement of the A.D. 700-900 portion of the Southwest curve, the 1978-1980 prehistoric collection sets were temporally evaluated. When these dates were compared to the original Southwest curve estimates,...

DOCUMENT Full-Text Carolyn Raffensperger.

This study examines changes in the food processing tool kit among the northern Anasazi during the period A.D. 650-900. It is assumed that, during this period, the Anasazi were gradually increasing their use of corn and decreasing their use of nondomesticated or gathered plants. Corresponding changes in the Anasazi tool kit are hypothesized. First, corn grinding tools are expected to have become more efficient, indicating specialization in the corn grinding task, and second, the total food...