Roxborough State Park Archaeological District
Roxborough State Park Archaeological District | |
Nearest city | Littleton |
---|---|
NRHP reference No. | 83001316 |
CSRHP No. | 5DA.343 |
Added to NRHP | 1983[1] |
Roxborough State Park Archaeological District is located in
Early native people inhabited the area between 5000 BC and 1000 AD and again from 1900 to 1924 AD. Roxborough State Park Archaeological District was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[2]
Geography
The Archaeological District is located within the 3,299-acre
Several ecosystems are found at Roxborough: forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, prairie, and woodlands that support many forms of wildlife. There are 145 bird, over 50 butterfly and moth, and 11 amphibian and reptile species. Animals commonly found in the park include black bear, coyote, deer, elk, fox, prairie dog and rabbit.[4] Sources of water include Little Willow Creek, Willow Creek and Mill Gulch. Elevations range from 5,900 to 7,280 feet (1,800 to 2,220 m).[5]
History
Within the
Paleo-Indians
Archaic period
People of the
Archaic people built structures with stone walls. The Roxborough residents accessed two quarries within Roxborough's Hogback region to create tools in the early Archaic period through later periods. There were a number of quarries found within Roxborough that, depending upon the site, contained jasper, opal, petrified wood and quartzite.[11]
Woodland period
The groups of people during the Woodland period (500-1000 AD) became much more diverse, were more likely to settle in a location or a couple of locations, cultivate, domesticate animals, make pottery and baskets, and perform ceremonial rituals.[12]
Archaeological findings
The Colorado Archaeological Society, Denver Chapter, conducted the first archaeological study in 1977.[13] Another archaeological study was completed in 2000 to further research known sites and explore unstudied acquired land.[14] On County Road 18 within the Roxborough State Park are 12 archaeological sites of nomadic Paleo-Indians and Native Americans, as well as some artifacts from early European American settlers in the Stagecoach area.[15]
Archaeological surveys have shown that people lived for periods of time during the Paleo-Indian, Archaic and Woodland prehistoric periods. Over time, the lifestyle transitioned from one that primarily hunted bison to a culture that farmed, created its own goods, traded and developed a complex society.[13]
Trade by the ancient culture is suggested by the presence of
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Colorado
- List of prehistoric sites in Colorado
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ National Register of Historic Places in Douglas County, Colorado. American Dreams, Inc. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ Roxborough State Park Interpretive Master Plan. pp. 7-8, 11. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ Roxborough State Park: Wildlife. Colorado State Parks. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ Roxborough State Park: Geology. Colorado State Parks. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ISBN 978-0-87081-935-3.
- ISBN 978-0-87081-935-3.
- ^ Nelson, Michael; Laubach, Tony. Where Is That? Explaining The Different Regions of Colorado. The Denver Channel. October 27, 2009. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-231-12790-5.
- ISBN 0-306-46158-7.
- ISBN 978-0-87081-935-3.
- ISBN 978-0-8160-6858-6.
- ^ a b c Roxborough State Park: Park Management Plan 2010-2010. Colorado State Parks. pp. 40-41. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ Roxborough State Park Interpretive Master Plan. p. 13. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ^ a b Roxborough State Park: Stagecoach Management Plan. pp. 43-44. Retrieved 9-28-2011.
- ISBN 978-0-87081-935-3.