Fremont Culture

The remains of a Fremont granary or storage structure sits on a rocky ledge in Dinosaur National Monument. These structures and other evidence give us clues about the life of the Fremont people who once lived here.

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Petroglyphs (top photo) are carved or chipped into rock, while pictographs (bottom photo) are painted onto rock.

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The Fremont people lived in this area about 1,000 years ago and left evidence of their presence in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs. Several areas in the monument allow visitors to easily access these designs and ponder the mystery of why they were created.

Archaeologists first studied and named the Fremont culture along the Fremont River in south-central Utah and have since traced it through much of the Green and Colorado River drainages. The lifestyle of the Fremont people varied considerably throughout that area, reflecting the diverse environments that they inhabited. In general, they lived in small bands or family groups, grew crops to supplement native foods, and did not build large permanent dwellings.

In the Dinosaur National Monument area, archaeological evidence of the Fremont dates from about 200 A.D. to about 1300 A.D. While few actual houses remain, known dwelling places ranged from natural shelters (such as rock overhangs or shallow caves) to small “villages” in open areas. Archeological evidence suggests many dwelling sites were occupied only seasonally, as the people moved into and out of an area according to the availability of water and food.

 

The Fremont built rock structures to store food.

The Fremont relied heavily on native plant foods, such as piñon nuts, berries, and cactus fruits, and on wild game, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, smaller mammals, and birds. However, they also grew corn, beans, and squash, sometimes using irrigation techniques. This gave them, at least seasonally, a more settled life than purely hunting-and-gathering would have, which in turn may have given them the time needed to create elaborate rock designs.

 

The fate of the Fremont culture is unclear. Recent theories suggest that the Fremont’s lifestyle may have changed due to drought or other climate factors, dwindling natural resources, or the influence of other neighboring cultures. Whatever the case, it is difficult to trace the Fremont as a distinct culture in the archaeological record after about 1200 A.D., but the Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs survive as a vivid reminder of these ancient people.

Find out where you can easily visit Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs in Dinosaur National Monument.