13,000 Years of Human History
Native American people have deep roots in the area that is now Utah. We can understand their ancient cultures and lifestyles through archaeology. Scroll down through this timeline to learn more about their different cultures and lifestyles.
11,000 BC ►
Paleoindian
12,000 years ago
The Paleoindian Period began when humans first came to the Americas.
7,000 BC ►
Archaic
8,000 years ago
Archaic people still lived the hunter-gatherer way of life, but had to be more deliberate in their search for food and water.
7,000 BC ►
Ancestral Pueblan
2,000 years ago
Ancestral Puebloan people lived in the Four Corners Region, including the famous red rock canyon country of southern Utah.
500 BC ►
Fremont
2,000 years ago
13,000 AD ►
Late Prehistoric
700 years ago
During this time, five different cultural groups called Utah their home: the Goshute, Paiute, Shoshone, Navajo, and Ute.
Adapting To Change
After Europeans and Euro-Americans began traveling, living, and working in this region, Native communities found ways to adapt to the huge changes brought about by these newcomers. These changes included loss of traditional food supplies and village sites, as well as the adoption of new goods, foods, and technologies. There's more to learn about Utah's different tribal communities on our communities page.