Running header: THE FREMONT PEOPLE AT BULL CREEK
The Fremont People at Bull Creek
Elizabeth Brunelle
Chris Ellis
Kita Harding
Salt Lake Community College
ANTH 2030-002 Intro to Archaeology
Tiffany Collins
April 29, 2015
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THE FREMONT PEOPLE AT BULL CREEK
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The Fremont People at Bull Creek
Our site was initially discovered after another site in the Bull Creek area, south of
Hanksville, Utah, had been excavated. It was speculated based on evidence from the previous
site, that there could be other sites in the Bull Creek area. The desert landscape does not have
much vegetation aside from some small grasses, but there is creek side vegetation such as some
scattered junipers.
Armed with information from nearby excavation and desert landscape transects survey
was done headed down the creek from original site 20 people surveyed transects 5 meters apart
in a 100×100 meter area.
Transects survey findings revealed a Parowan-basil notched projectile which was then
documented along with its GPS coordinates. Centered on the location we found the projectile
point, using remote sensing, a 50x50 meter area was then searched using ground penetrating
radar (GPR).
GPR reviled three anomalies resembling walls of pit houses or storage areas. Then, 6 test
excavations of 1x1 meter were done over the anomalies. These test excavations revealed round,
stone lined walls confirming the presence of pit houses. Other artifacts found during these test
excavations included metate, pot shards and bone tools.
Our excavation strategy was based on the 3 anomalies revealed by GPR and the findings
of the test excavations. First we chose to do a full excavation on the area. We excavated 25x25
meter area to a depth of 1 meter, in 1x1 meter squares. During the excavations over the three pits
houses, a greater area was searched using GPR but no anomalies of significance we're located
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leaving our focus on the three known pit houses. Additional artifacts were found during these
excavations confirming a new Fremont site in the Bull Creek area.
Due to the Fremont style artifacts and features discovered we can say that the Bull Creek
Site dates from sometime around A.D. 900-1250, during the Formative Era.
Unfortunately much of the subsurface layers were disturbed by rodent activity making it
difficult to make interpretations about the date of the site based on the stratigraphy. Typology
was very helpful in determining the date of the site. The projectile points and pot sherds found
were identified as particular types and compared with typological sequences to reveal their
relative dates. The dates of the types of artifacts and feature found, all fell within the date range
of AD 900-1250.
The three buildings discovered were determined to be pit houses constructed of mud and
stone with timber roofs. Each featured a hearth lined with stone slabs and ventilation shafts.
Among the artifacts found were thirteen projectile points as well as flaked stone
debitages of obsidian and chert. Two of the projectile points found were Parowan Basal-notched
points and the remaining were Rose Spring Corner-notched. Most of these projectile points were
made from obsidian with the exception of three of the Rose Spring Corner-notched points which
were made from chert.
Some pot sherds were located while excavating the site. Most of the sherds were that of a
grey coil pottery. These shards were identified as the Sevier Grey pottery from both open mouth
jars and pitchers. Some of the pot sherds had rounded edges and appeared to have been used as
scoops or scrapers. There were a few shards found that differed from the others. These sherds
were from black on white ceramics that featured geometric designs typical of Anisazi pottery.
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These are possibly the result of limited trade that happened between the Anisazi and the Fremont
people.
An ornate, unfired clay figurine known as a human effigy was found as well. The figure
was typical of other Fremont figurines found, lacking arms or legs and featuring a trapezoidal
shape. The figurine featured a round face, ornately styled hair, and slit eyes. The figure was
dressed with jewelry, a belt and skirt. Due to the skirt and “hair bob” the figurine is likely
represents a female.
Other objects such a as a metate, manos, and four small bone tools were recovered from
the excavations. One of the bone tools was a harpoon shaped tool likely used for fishing. The
other two tools were awls. These were possibly used as weaving or engraving tools. The last was
a sharp pointed tool possibly used as a needle or for weaving.
Some small animal bone fragments were uncovered along with remains of unidentifiable
plant remains, and some pieces of corn and their husks. While it was difficult to identify the
bones they were that of a small animal such as a rabbit.
The term “Fremont” is used to describe a highly adaptive and diverse group of hunters
and farmers. The Fremont people do not fit so easily into archaeological classifications as well as
other ancient cultures do. We are able to tie this culture together through certain living patterns
and artifacts that they have left behind.
The Fremont people managed to adapt to the high desert lands and were efficient hunter
gathers as well as farmers. They had developed the use of tools for these tasks such as projectile
points and harpoons made of bone for fishing purposes. The discovery of the metate, manos and
pieces of corn shows that they were able to domesticate and grow their own corn while still
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continuing to hunt wildlife such as deer, antelope, and small animals thanks to the creek that
provided the life around them.
Unlike some other neighboring tribes who were cliff dwellers, these people resided in pit
houses partially in the ground made of mud and stone. The pit houses included timber roofs and
ventilation shafts as well. Due to the variations in Fremont lifestyles, we are not sure if this
particular group was more settled or only lived here seasonally. Even though this group appeared
to be a small tribe they seemed to have done decently well for themselves.
Although the Fremont people were separate from the Anasazi, evidence from the Anisazi
style pottery found, show that there was some point of contact with one another. Although,
probably not very much. The Fremont pot sherds that were uncovered show that this group of
people were also skilled in making pottery. The Fremont also participated in the making of clay
figurines. It is hard for us to understand the purpose behind such figurines like the human effigy
found at the site, however it is possible that they held some kind of spiritual or ritual importance.
As for this particular groups disappearance over the ages we can only assume they had
also moved onto new lands in southern Idaho like the rest of the Fremont people. It is possible
that the high desert landscape made farming difficult as the land became dryer or maybe it was
due to the fact other tribes such as the Ute’s moved in next door and kicked them out. Whatever
the reasoning was, they had deserted their village, leaving behind small treasures for us to
excavate.
THE FREMONT PEOPLE AT BULL CREEK
References
Knolls, M. (2015). Gallery Interpreter Guide: First Peoples. Retrieved from:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-36PM391MCZSWRaT2FwTjRPSkk/edit
Madsen, D. B. (2002, January 30). Exploring The Fremont. Retrieved from:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B- 36PM391MCZYWtCd1dGMEVHMGc/edit
Repansheck, K. (2015, February 16). Investigating The Fremont. Retrieved from:
http://mariarchaeology.com/Milford_Archaeological_Research_Institute/Home_files/Win201112%20Fremont.pdf
Spangler, J. D. (2006, April 1). Paradigms and Perspectives Revisited. Retrieved from: www.blm.gov/:
http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/ut/natural_resources/cultural/archaeology.Par.26052.
File.dat/Paradigms.pdf
The Gunnison Bend Site. (2015, February 15). Retrieved from: http://www.utaharchunev.com/placesalong-the-pipeline/gunnison- prehistoric-habitation-sit
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