Hall of Archaeology

Ice Age Mural & Animals

The College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum's mural depicting the end of the Ice Age in eastern Utah was produced by artist Joseph S. Venus. The mural depicts more than fifty animals from the Ice Age including mammoths, mastodon, buffalo, Saber tooth cat, camels other mammals and birds. The mural is 40' X 8' and covered the Pleistocene age (10,000 to 17,000 years ago in Utah).

The museum also has an amazing collection of prehistoric mammals. Here is brief description of some of them. The exhibits of the Dire wolf, Saber tooth cat, and short-faced bear are not described here.

Colombian Mammoth
A cast of the Colombian Mammoth found 8-8-88 in Huntington Canyon encompasses a majority of the lower level in the Hall of Man. Hailed as one of the most pristine examples of a Columbian Mammoth to date, this mammoth drew world-wide attention because it was discovered in Huntington Canyon, near Price, at an elevation of 9,000 feet (the highest elevation of a mammoth find at the time). Several other points of interest surrounding this find, include why it was found so far out of its traditional bounds and the completeness of the animal. Also noteworthy by their own rights, are the world-renowned Pilling Figurines. Found in a cave by a local cattleman, Clarence Pilling, these figurines have been profiled multiple times in National Geographic and are some of the most elaborate and carefully made clay figurines in existence. As well as their remarkable craftsmanship, these figurines are also acknowledged as the largest collection of figurines found in one local. Also complimenting the Hall of Man are exhibits that lend themselves to learning of hunting and gathering techniques, and the lifeways of the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Fremont and Ute peoples.

Ground Sloth
The Ground Sloth was a heavy, slow moving mammal that roamed the mountain of Utah 11,000 to 14,000 years ago. The Ground Sloth is bear-like in appearance but much larger. It has clubbed feet and very long curled claws use to grasp tree branches while it ate the leaves.

Ancient People of Eastern Utah

Barrier Canyon Pictographs
The title of the Barrier Canyon Pictograph is "The Holy Ghost and Attendants," a WPA artist painted the mural in 1941. The pictographs are found in the western tributaries of Green River 100 miles from Utah. It has a large ghost looking figure surrounded by smaller mummy looking figures. The pictograph dated back 2,000 to 4,000 years ago and it is unclear as to the true meaning behind the pictograph.

Fremont Culture
Nestled in the mountainous regions, Great Basin and the desert vistas of Utah, the Fremont Culture called this beautiful and diverse land home from approximately 400 to 1300 AD. Their culture combined hunting, gathering and farming. The Fremont utilized the valleys and the abundant wild game to provide food and clothing for their families.

The Pilling Figurines
Imagine a prehistoric culture with the tradition of making elaborate clay figurines, figurines that have lasted for over 1000 years in the dry desert environment. Figurines that mystify archaeologists are on permanent display at the CEU Prehistoric Museum. Known the world over as the Pilling Figurines, these remarkable clay figures were discovered in the early 1950's by local rancher Clarence Pilling in a shallow cave. The figures were laid out in male and female pairs. All of the figurines have distinctive hair styles, necklaces, aprons and display basket impressions on the backsides. Many of the figures have face and body paint and all are made of the same unfired clay. The figurines were featured in a 1980 National Geographic magazine.

Fremont
This life size reproduction of half of a Fremont pit house was built with the living space partially underground. The upper part was constructed from cedar bark, willows and mud supported by cedar bark poles. Inside there is a Fremont family. The woman is grinding corn using a mano and metate. The man is preparing to go hunting.

Painted Buffalo Robes
Painted hides were important to the early people of Utah. These hides told stories, provided warmth, and were used in artistic expression. The hides may be Fremont or early Ute.

Ute Culture
The Ute Indians were a Shoshonean-speaking group of Indians in the area of western Colorado and eastern Utah; their name was given to the latter state. At first the Ute's had no horses and lived in small family clusters subsisting by food collecting. After acquiring horses in the 18th century, however, the Ute of western Colorado and later of eastern Utah became organized in loose bands of hunters.

Southwestern Pottery
Pottery is a sign of settled life in villages. Because pottery styles change over time, archaeologists use Southwest pottery styles to assign dates to people and places.