Identifying Beaver Fur Trappers In The Archaeological Record

Description

The beaver fur trade in Colorado occurred from about 1800 to 1840. The 27 fur trade posts in and around the state are a testament to the intensity of the trapping. However, beaver trapping camps have rarely been recorded due to a lack of criteria for their identification. Three items are proposed that may be used to identify beaver fur trappers in the archaeological record: gun flints, musket balls, and beaver traps and parts; however, site location may also be a very important clue. Horse tack with metal parts and kaolin tobacco pipes may be used to distinguish Euroamerican from Native American sites.