THESIS EXCAVATIONS AT THE GILLIGAN’S ISLAND SHELTERS (5FN1592), FORT CARSON MILITARY RESERVATION (FCMR), FREMONT COUNTY, COLORADO VOLUME I-PRIMARY REPORT Submitted by Cody Mitchell Anderson Department of Anthropology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Summer 2008 COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY April 16, 2008 WE HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER OUR SUPERVISION BY CODY M. ANDERSON ENTITLED EXCAVATIONS AT THE GILLIGAN’S ISLAND SHELTERS (5FN1592), FORT CARSON MILITARY RESERVATION (FCMR), FREMONT COUNTY, COLORADO BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING IN PART REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS. Committee on Graduate Work ____________________________________________________ Adviser Dr. Jeffery L. Eighmy _____________________________________________________ Department Member Dr. Christian J. Zier _____________________________________________________ Outside Member Dr. Mark T. Fiege _____________________________________________________ Department Head/Director Dr. Kathleen A. Galvin ii ABSTRACT OF THESIS EXCAVATIONS AT THE GILLIGAN’S ISLAND SHELTERS (5FN1592), FORT CARSON MILITARY RESERVATION (FCMR), FREMONT COUNTY, COLORADO This thesis examines the surface and subsurface archaeological work undertaken in 2002 at the Gilligan’s Island site (5FN1592), located at the base of the Rocky Mountains on the Fort Carson Military Reservation, eastern Fremont County, Colorado. Permission was granted by Fort Carson to conduct an excavation at this site in order to determine its potential to produce significant subsurface occupational remains. Excavations focused on two connecting rock shelters at the base of a prominent cliff face. Four interconnecting grid units were positioned in a trench-like fashion through the central midline of each shelter proper. Deposition of excavated units ranges up to 1.3 meters in depth. These trenches exposed deeply stratified prehistoric materials including multiple intact features. The radiocarbon data (based on conventional uncalibrated dates) identified three prehistoric cultural components: Middle Archaic period (ca. 4240-3010 B.P.), Late Archaic period (ca. 2230-1880 B.P.), and Developmental period (ca. 1390- 1070 B.P.). A historic component is also evident and is associated with probable looting activities in the shelters. Excavation revealed that the integrity of the shelters is virtually intact, and thus the potential for significant interpretation is excellent. The multiple prehistoric iii occupations currently incorporate a comprehensive data set which includes analyses of artifacts, features, geomorphology, palyonology, flora, and fauna. The degree of recovered information allowed for four primary research themes to be identified and discussed. These themes include chronology, settlement and subsistence patterns, technology, and paleoclimate and geomorphology. Analysis revealed that throughout the periodic ca. 4000 year prehistoric occupation of the shelters, utilization remained virtually homogeneous. There are few adaptations in subsistence and technology. Paleoclimatic conditions appear to have fluctuated from moist and dry conditions, but do not appear to have had an effect on shelter occupation. Data recovered from the 2002 excavations at the Gilligan’s Island shelters yielded information regarding prehistoric life ways of the Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, and Developmental periods. The site has produced data that contributes to archaeological research within the Arkansas River Basin and its surrounding regions. Cody Mitchell Anderson Department of Anthropology Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 Summer 2008 iv Acknowledgments First I would like to acknowledge and thank those people who have influenced and encouraged me throughout the years in the archaeological discipline. My most appreciative thanks go to Steve M. Kalasz, Margaret A. Van Ness, Dr. Christian J. Zier and Mona Charles. If nothing else, this thesis should demonstrate that their steadfast patience and continued support have had an obvious influence on my archaeological interests. Investigations at the Gilligan’s Island site were conducted under the terms set among Randy Korgel, Dr. Jeffery L. Eighmy, and myself. I wish to express thanks to Thomas Warren and the rest of the DECAM staff, especially that of the Cultural Resource Management, at Fort Carson for their support throughout the project. A number of other great people have contributed throughout the project. Many are mentioned in the first chapter and I extend a whole hardened thanks to all of those who volunteered their time and energy. Michael McFaul owner of LaRamie Soils Service, Inc. helped immensely with geoarchaeological studies at the site. Special thanks are also expressed to Rose M. Hosmer who often acted as my rag-tag crew chief and contributed a significant amount of the summer to the fieldwork at the site. It was a great time. I could not have accomplished the lab work or report writing without a great many people and organizations. Special thanks are expressed to Denise Fallon Zier and v Dr. Zier who contributed time, space, and materials; by allowing me to do a lot of my laboratory work and report writing at Centennial Archaeology, Inc. Mr. Kalasz contributed immensely in all aspects of this project with his open opinions and years of useful experience to guide me along the way. Bonnie K. Gibson, Eric M. Gantt, and Brook A. Anderson contributed to the graphics. John Kittredge provided additional insight in statistics. Editors of the premature report chapters comprised of Joannah Merriman, Carole L. Lieu, and Patrice K. Gibson. Additional funding for the project consisted of the Colorado Archaeological Society, Inc. award of the Alice Hamilton Scholarship Fund, Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists award of the Ward F. Weakly Memorial Fund, and twice the Colorado State University Foundation awarded the Karen S. Greiner Endowment for the Preservation of Colorado Archaeology. Dr. Zier also took the brunt of the final editing, for which I am most sorrowful and appreciative. Thanks also to my advisor, Dr. Eighmy and committee member and Dr. Mark T. Fiege for their advice throughout this work. My mom Diane K. Anderson did a lot of the grunt work in the lab, especially cleaning and cataloging artifacts. Thanks again to her and my dad Forrest L. Anderson for their unwavering support throughout the years. vi VOLUME 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION...................................................................................1 Project Description..............................................................................1 Project Management Data...................................................................5 Research Orientation...........................................................................7 Research Constraints...........................................................................9 Project Administrative Data................................................................9 CHAPTER 2-ENVIRONMENT..................................................................................12 Introduction.......................................................................................12 Site-Specific Physiography, Geology, and Hydrology.....................12 Environmental Overview of the Fort Carson Region .......................14 Climate.....................................................................................14 Modern Climatic Conditions...........................................14 Regional Paleoclimatic Trends.......................................18 Hydrology .......................................................................24 Geology and Geomorphology..................................................24 Geology...........................................................................24 Geomorphology ..............................................................26 Ecosystem ................................................................................29 Vegetation.......................................................................29 Fauna...............................................................................30 Regional and Site-Specific Land Use Patterns and Impacts.....................................................................................32 Historic Land Use ...........................................................32 Current Land Use and Military Impacts .........................33 Other Impacts..................................................................33 CHAPTER 3- CULTURE HISTORY .........................................................................35 Introduction.......................................................................................35 Paleoindian Stage..............................................................................35 Archaic Stage....................................................................................37 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Vol. 1) Section Page Early Archaic Period................................................................38 Middle Archaic Period.............................................................39 Late Archaic Period.................................................................42 Late Prehistoric Stage .......................................................................45 Developmental Period..............................................................46 Diversification Period..............................................................48