Abstract

In addition to being a pure science, geomorphology can interact with other disciplines in the formation of hypotheses about the development of an area. This paper reports the use of geomorphology to determine and interpret the land use pattern of Fremont Indians in Clear Creek Canyon of central Utah.

In 1983, impending construction of Interstate-70 through Clear Creek Canyon led to an archeological survey of the area. As part of that study, I investigated the geomorphic history of the canyon to correlate it with land use patterns at two major Fremont sites.

At Five Finger Ridge, a landslide in the headwaters of Dry Creek resulted in a fan that provided a source of culinary water and arable land not visible from transportation routes along Clear Creek. This situation was apparently favorable to the Fremont Indians, and allowed the construction of a village containing about 100 structures on a narrow ridge overlooking the canyon.

At the Icicle Bench site, partial damming of Clear Creek by the aggradation of the Dry Wash fan provided arable land and a low gradient stream suitable for diversion for agricultural uses. The moderately-sized village could then be located on a part of the Dry Wash fan protected from floods.