Prehistory
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Anthropological evidence reveals that human beings have inhabited the Salt Lake area for over 11,000 years, perhaps beyond. The Anasazi, "The Ancient Ones," first appeared in this area in approximately 1000 BC and mysteriously disappeared in 1300 AD At about 1150 AD, another group called the Fremont culture, which resembled the Anasazi, emerged. This Fremont culture ceased to exist at about the same time that the Anasazi left the area, circa 1300 AD (Source: Utah Historical Society, Robert S. McPherson)
By 1000 AD groups/bands of Indians which belonged to the language family of Uto-Aztecan, which part of the Numic speaking branch, entered the area. By 1300 AD, they had spread into Utah and Colorado. The Ute, Shoshoni, Goshute, and Paiute were part of the groups which entered this area, hence these latter tribes have inhabited this area for at least 1000 years.
The Dine' (Navajo) believed that they emerged through four worlds into their present location in the Four Corners area, between their Four Sacred Mountains. Archaeological findings show that the Dine' people were in the area as early as 1300 AD The Dine' are a part of the Athabaskan speaking people who range from Alaska and Canada through the United States to Mexico. (Source: Begay and Maryboy, Dine' College, 1999)
Hence, prior to the coming of the Mormon settlers in 1847, the Numic and Athabascan speaking cultures thrived throughout what has come to be called the State of Utah. The Utes, for which the State of Utah is named, occupied the Provo Valley area down into Sanpete County and beyond. The Shoshoni occupied the areas north of the Salt Lake Valley. While the Goshute occupied primarily the areas west of the Salt Lake Valley. The Paiute occupied the areas directly south/southwest of Utah Valley. Further south/southeast was the home of the Navajo (the Dine'). (Source: Utah Historical Society, Robert S. McPherson)
Post Contact - Transitional Period