| OCR Text |
Show PART II DESCRIPTION OF REGION are available by counties. The differences in boundaries necessarily cause some variations in the statistical data for the economic and hydro- logic subregions, but these are generally small. History The prehistory of the region spans the first 11,000 years and it is anticipated that earlier evidences of the presence of man may be found. The Lithic Stage commenced about 9*000 B.C. and is characterized by finely chipped Clovis Fluted projectile points, the well-known Folsom points, and the delicately flaked leaf-shaped Eden and Angostura points. Man subsisted on big game hunting during this period. The Archaic Stage, which dates from about 2,000 B.C., followed. Artifacts indicate man had adapted to a hunting and plant-gathering subsistence in a harsh desert and semiarid environment. During the Archaic Stage, man began to special- ize into regionally identifiable cultural groupings out of vrtiich the later period and better-known Anasazi and Fremont cultures emerged. The Anasazi culture, which ranges from the fifth to the lVth century, A.D., is known for impressive achievements in architecture, ceramics, and horticulture and had a highly developed religious system. There is a discontinuity between the prehistoric cultures and the In- dian populations existing at the time the first European explorers entered the Region. Navajos, situated in the southern portion of the region, are latecomers who arrived during the last 500 years. In 1869 Major John Wesley Powell explored 500 miles of the Colorado River system from Green River, Wyoming, to the mouth of the Virgin River within the present area of Lake Mead. Powell's studies and recommenda- tions were the first and for many years the most significant in shaping policy and legislation for adapting the arid lands of the West to agri- culture . One of the first permanent settlements was the fort built by Antoi.ne Robidou in 1832 near the confluence of the Uinta and Duchesne Rivers in. the Green River Subregion. John Robertson established a trading post on Blacks Fork about 183^+ and induced Jim Bridger to settle nearby along the immigrant trail to Oregon and later to California. Fort Bridger became an important resupply point for the Mormon pioneers in 18^+7 a-ncL succeed- ing years and for California-bound travelers following the gold discovery of 18^9. Gold attracted early prospectors and miners to the region. It was discovered near Breckenridge, Colorado, in l859> arLcL numerous placer mines quickly flourished. Other gold and silver strikes followed. Dux- ing the next few years there was considerable development throughout tlie Colorado part of the region and the population increased rapidly. |
