Park offers glimpse of mysterious Fremont culture By Mark Havnes , The Salt Lake Tribune

Opened in 1987, [Fremont Indian State Park and Museum] sits on 889 acres 17 miles south of Richfield, [Utah], just off Interstate 70. It boasts a museum, a visitor center and trails that wind among the ancient rock art whose meanings remain as elusive as the people who carved them.

”This is the location of the largest Fremont village ever excavated,” explains park archaeologist Dee Hardy, pointing across I-70 to a hill known as Five Finger Ridge.

Hardy says 106 structures — including pit houses and granaries — were documented then destroyed in 1985 and ’86 during construction of the freeway. The project included removing a large segment of the ridge and rerouting Clear Creek, which helped sustain the settlement of about 200 people at the height of the Fremont culture between A.D. 900 and 1250.

Hardy notes the Fremont were not identified as a separate culture until 1928 when a pit house and pottery were found near present-day Capitol Reef National Park. Scientists named the culture after the Fremont River, which runs near that find, although the ancient people occupied most of Utah — except the southeastern part, which was dominated by the Anasazi.

About the park

* Extra attractions Fremont Indian State Park and Museum offers a museum store, amphitheater, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, fishing and overnight camping.

* Hours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial to Labor Day weekends. Winter Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

* Fees $1 per person or $5 per vehicle.

* Events June 5, Annual Atlatl Competition for adults and youths ages 6-15; Aug. 21, park’s 17th anniversary featuring a variety of activities and presentations; September, pottery-making workshops (dates to
be announced).

* Contact information 435-527-4631

* On the Web http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/park_pages/fremont.htm; or e-mail at fremontindian@utah.gov or parkcomment@utah.gov