ABSTRACT
Rockshelters and caves used by prehistoric people have fascinated archaeologists and the general public for many years. Such sheltered locations often contain a wide range of perishable remains as well as intact geological and cultural deposits that make them particularly significant loci for archeological investigation. Rockshelters, caves, and alcoves are often assumed to have served as important locations within past land-use systems. It is the topographic situation, distribution, and domestic activity in proximity to rockshelters along the Purgatoire River in southeast Colorado that is the focus of this paper.