Archaeological Sites in Welsh Canyon, Las Animas County, Colorado.

Abstract

Abstract : During 1995 and 1996, an archaeological survey was completed in Welsh Canyon, Las Animas County, Colorado. Archaeologists found and recorded 234 sites dominated by rockshelter and cave sites in the upper reaches of the canyon and procurement sites in the lower part. Surface artifacts and test excavations at five rockshelter sites by Schiavitti et al. (1999) indicate an age range from the Middle Archaic through the Late Ceramic period with significant use during the Apishapa Phase of the Middle Ceramic Period. Although a large number of rock art sites were anticipated, only eight were found and two of these are historic inscriptions. Welsh Canyon is a tributary to the Purgatoire River but unlike some adjacent canyons it does not contain an intermittent watercourse. This is the likely reason that site density was lower than anticipated in the bottom of the canyon near its mouth although this area of the canyon contains ample amounts of standing water during much of the year. It may be that the proximity to the Purgatoire River was such an attraction that these former hunting and gathering peoples spent more time there than in the lower parts of Welsh Canyon.