EARLY PALEOINDIGENOUS PROJECTILE POINTS IN THE UPPER GUNNISON BASIN, COLORADO: INSIGHTS FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Abstract

Although Folsom and subsequent Paleoindigenous groups are well-represented in theintermountain basins of the Rocky Mountains' western slope, Clovis has sometimes eluded archaeologists in those resource-rich environments. The Upper Gunnison Basin (UGB) of Colorado’s southern Rocky Mountains is one such place where Clovis exists only in whispers and not in formal archaeological records. This thesis presents the findings of a study of early Paleoindigenous projectile points from private collections in the UGB that suggests that this “absence” is not caused by a lack of Clovis artifacts but instead by archaeologists failing to leverage data contained in the display cases and shoe boxes of the residents most familiar with the landscape. Through collaboration with those residents, I confirmed anecdotal reports of two Clovis points and established solid proveniences for them. In addition, I documented numerous later Paleoindigenous projectile points, with at least rudimentary proveniences. By integrating data from both private and public collections, I developed a well-rounded perspective on the Paleoindigenous record in the UGB. This study shows that surveys of private collections are an effective means for uncovering rare archaeological signatures, particularly in privately owned and archaeologically underexplored landscapes. Although private collections are an often-overlooked resource that can help address a broad range of research questions, they can also foster community and archaeologist collaboration, which provides archaeologists with an opportunity to encourage responsible cultural resource stewardship in a manner that is engaging and productive for all involved.