Paleoindian Occupation of the High Country:The Case of Middle Park, Colorado

Abstract

Middle Park is one of the high intermountain basins of the Rocky Mountains that has been occupied continually for over 11,000 years. Our studies of the Paleo indian occupations suggest that many of the well known Plains complexes, as well as some mountain complexes, are present in Middle Parle This paper concentrates on the sites and collections we have investigated most thoroughly, but reviews other sites as well. Analysis of chipped stone and bone yields information on organization of Paleoindian technology and settlement-subsistence strategies. Middle Park is shown to have been densely occupied on a year-round basis by Paleoindian people with connections to the Great Plains to the east and Great Basin to the west.