Ella Axelrod - The Dead Man's Cave Gulch Box: Collaboration on a Cache
Colorado College
A wooden box buried almost 100 years ago was recovered near Dead Man's Cave Gulch in the western San Luis Valley. The assemblage within it is a cache of personal belongings abandoned in the mid 1920’s and indicates an association with a woman or women involved in farming and ranching during this period. This research was conducted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and relied on collaboration with the U.S.F.S. and associated communities. I will be discussing research methods that informed this project and the impact of collaboration from a student perspective.
Keywords: historic, usfs, student projects
Colorado College
A wooden box buried almost 100 years ago was recovered near Dead Man's Cave Gulch in the western San Luis Valley. The assemblage within it is a cache of personal belongings abandoned in the mid 1920’s and indicates an association with a woman or women involved in farming and ranching during this period. This research was conducted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and relied on collaboration with the U.S.F.S. and associated communities. I will be discussing research methods that informed this project and the impact of collaboration from a student perspective.
Keywords: historic, usfs, student projects
Kimball Banks - High Peaks and Mountain Meadows: Archaeology of the Tahosa Creek Site (5LR647)
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc
In the summer of 2018, History Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation conducted the annual summer PAAC program at the Tahosa Creek Site (5LR647). The public education event included members of the Colorado Archaeological Society, Students from the Colorado School of Mines, and assistance of professionals Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. The site is a large, multi-component, open-air camp on a rise bordering Tahosa Creek approximately 9 miles south of Estes Park, Colorado. Occupations appear to have been sporadic and temporary but extended from the Late Paleoindian to through the Proto- to- Early Post-Contact. It is suggested that Tahosa Valley served as a corridor between the foothills area to the east and the higher alpine meadows such as those in Rocky Mountain National Park and that the site represents a stop on the passage between the two.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dante Knapp, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.; Holly Norton, State Archaeologist, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
Keywords: PAAC program, temporary campsite, Tahosa Creek
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc
In the summer of 2018, History Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation conducted the annual summer PAAC program at the Tahosa Creek Site (5LR647). The public education event included members of the Colorado Archaeological Society, Students from the Colorado School of Mines, and assistance of professionals Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. The site is a large, multi-component, open-air camp on a rise bordering Tahosa Creek approximately 9 miles south of Estes Park, Colorado. Occupations appear to have been sporadic and temporary but extended from the Late Paleoindian to through the Proto- to- Early Post-Contact. It is suggested that Tahosa Valley served as a corridor between the foothills area to the east and the higher alpine meadows such as those in Rocky Mountain National Park and that the site represents a stop on the passage between the two.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dante Knapp, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.; Holly Norton, State Archaeologist, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
Keywords: PAAC program, temporary campsite, Tahosa Creek
Erin Baxter - Alferd Packer, Some Old and New Archaeology, Student Collaboration, and When is it Okay to Eat People?
Denver Museum of Nature & Science & Uni CO-Boulder
In the winter of 1874, mining prospector Alferd Packer and five companions tried to cross the southern Rocky Mountains. Only Packer returned. A hundred years of propaganda around the story culminated in the 1989 discovery and exhumation of the victims. However, even those data have not put the controversy of Packer's guilt to rest. This paper will examine historical and archaeological data and combine it with new archives, and the work of experimental archaeology conducted by CU-Boulder students in collaboration with professional butchers, in order to elaborate on a tale as old as the state of Colorado. I hope to demonstrate some new insights into Packer's behavior as well as his continuing historical relevance to this state and the world -- including the long-held question 'when is it okay to eat people?'
Keywords: Experimental Archaeology, Cannibalism, Collaboration
Denver Museum of Nature & Science & Uni CO-Boulder
In the winter of 1874, mining prospector Alferd Packer and five companions tried to cross the southern Rocky Mountains. Only Packer returned. A hundred years of propaganda around the story culminated in the 1989 discovery and exhumation of the victims. However, even those data have not put the controversy of Packer's guilt to rest. This paper will examine historical and archaeological data and combine it with new archives, and the work of experimental archaeology conducted by CU-Boulder students in collaboration with professional butchers, in order to elaborate on a tale as old as the state of Colorado. I hope to demonstrate some new insights into Packer's behavior as well as his continuing historical relevance to this state and the world -- including the long-held question 'when is it okay to eat people?'
Keywords: Experimental Archaeology, Cannibalism, Collaboration
Joshua Birndorf* - Tangled Transmissions: The Differentiation of Historic Telegraph and Telephone Lines Through the Analysis of Material Culture
Colorado College
Colorado telephone and telegraph systems, have, in many cases, been underutilized for archaeological site interpretations. These features are often recorded as transmission lines with few attempts at differentiation and little information being gleaned from associated artifacts. This paper explores a cursory history of the telephone’s and telegraph’s entries into Colorado and examines three primary pieces of material culture associated with these features: wires, poles, and insulators. These artifacts have the potential to provide limited temporal diagnoses, distinguish under what circumstances the line was established and, on a limited basis, differentiate between telegraph and telephone lines.
Keywords: Historic, Communication, Telegraph
Colorado College
Colorado telephone and telegraph systems, have, in many cases, been underutilized for archaeological site interpretations. These features are often recorded as transmission lines with few attempts at differentiation and little information being gleaned from associated artifacts. This paper explores a cursory history of the telephone’s and telegraph’s entries into Colorado and examines three primary pieces of material culture associated with these features: wires, poles, and insulators. These artifacts have the potential to provide limited temporal diagnoses, distinguish under what circumstances the line was established and, on a limited basis, differentiate between telegraph and telephone lines.
Keywords: Historic, Communication, Telegraph
Lars Boyd - An Analysis of Museum Collections from Buick Camp (5EL1), An Upper Republican Campsite on the Colorado Piedmont/ High Plains Border
University of Leicester
Buick Camp (5EL1) is an Upper Republican culture open camp that is situated on a grassy ledge
overlooking a drainage of Beaver Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, in eastern Colorado.
Analyses on the 1,439 documented specimens recovered from previous excavations and a surface collection determined the site is primarily a hunting and animal processing campsite with multiple other secondary activities occurring as well. Buick Camp represents the southwestern expansion of the Upper Republican phase of the Central Plains tradition. Material culture includes diagnostic ceramics, various types of projectile points, beveled and non-beveled bifacial knives, lithic debitage, fragmented bison bones, and fiber processing instruments. This site and other Upper Republican culture sites in eastern Colorado provide evidence that the prehistoric occupants originated from Upper Republican groups farther east and had extensive interactions between various cultural groups on the Great Plains.
Keywords: Upper Republican, Lithic Analysis, Ceramic Analysis
University of Leicester
Buick Camp (5EL1) is an Upper Republican culture open camp that is situated on a grassy ledge
overlooking a drainage of Beaver Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, in eastern Colorado.
Analyses on the 1,439 documented specimens recovered from previous excavations and a surface collection determined the site is primarily a hunting and animal processing campsite with multiple other secondary activities occurring as well. Buick Camp represents the southwestern expansion of the Upper Republican phase of the Central Plains tradition. Material culture includes diagnostic ceramics, various types of projectile points, beveled and non-beveled bifacial knives, lithic debitage, fragmented bison bones, and fiber processing instruments. This site and other Upper Republican culture sites in eastern Colorado provide evidence that the prehistoric occupants originated from Upper Republican groups farther east and had extensive interactions between various cultural groups on the Great Plains.
Keywords: Upper Republican, Lithic Analysis, Ceramic Analysis
Dan Jepson - US 550 - 160: A Successful Collaboration between the Colorado Department of Transportation and Southern Ute Indian Tribe
(Presenting on behalf of Garrett Briggs)
The presentation highlights the results of a successful inter-governmental collaboration between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Colorado Department of Transportation. This multi-year project acts as an example of how open, honest, and consistent communication can lead to an outcome incorporating the cultural concerns of a sovereign nation, while fulfilling the goals of a transportation project involving land within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The US 550-160 project represents what a “responsible and good faith effort” entails, via patient consultation and the integration of Tribal policies.
Keywords: Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Department of Transportation, US 550-160 Project
(Presenting on behalf of Garrett Briggs)
The presentation highlights the results of a successful inter-governmental collaboration between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Colorado Department of Transportation. This multi-year project acts as an example of how open, honest, and consistent communication can lead to an outcome incorporating the cultural concerns of a sovereign nation, while fulfilling the goals of a transportation project involving land within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The US 550-160 project represents what a “responsible and good faith effort” entails, via patient consultation and the integration of Tribal policies.
Keywords: Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Department of Transportation, US 550-160 Project
Paul Buckner* - An Archaeological Predictive Model for Lassen Volcanic National Park: High Elevation Prehistoric Settlement and Landscape Use in the Southern Cascades, California (Poster)
Colorado State University
Situated at the intersection of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin bioregions, the diverse landscapes of Lassen Volcanic National Park are culturally significant to contemporary and ancestral indigenous peoples in the northern California region. The material remains left by the park’s ancient inhabitants comprise an important heritage resource and offer a useful opportunity to clarify understandings of prehistoric landscape use in the Southern Cascades. Using statistical and probabilistic techniques, based on an archaeological predictive model recently developed for the park, this study employs a spatioenvironmental approach to analyze differential patterns of prehistoric settlement and landscape use in the Lassen high country. The results of the study support the Wyethia intensification hypothesis, which describes an emphasis on plant resources as a subsistence staple at high elevations, and raise compelling questions surrounding the relationship between Lassen’s prehistoric inhabitants and the park’s active volcanic features.
Keywords: GIS, Archaeological Predictive Modeling, Spatial Analysi
Colorado State University
Situated at the intersection of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin bioregions, the diverse landscapes of Lassen Volcanic National Park are culturally significant to contemporary and ancestral indigenous peoples in the northern California region. The material remains left by the park’s ancient inhabitants comprise an important heritage resource and offer a useful opportunity to clarify understandings of prehistoric landscape use in the Southern Cascades. Using statistical and probabilistic techniques, based on an archaeological predictive model recently developed for the park, this study employs a spatioenvironmental approach to analyze differential patterns of prehistoric settlement and landscape use in the Lassen high country. The results of the study support the Wyethia intensification hypothesis, which describes an emphasis on plant resources as a subsistence staple at high elevations, and raise compelling questions surrounding the relationship between Lassen’s prehistoric inhabitants and the park’s active volcanic features.
Keywords: GIS, Archaeological Predictive Modeling, Spatial Analysi
Paul Buckner* - There and Back Again in the Rawah Wilderness: Recognizing Reoccupation in High Elevation Surface Contexts, Larimer County, Colorado
Colorado State University
Hunter-gatherers seasonally occupied the subalpine and alpine ecozones of the Medicine Bow Mountains for some 10,000 years. The reuse of place through time has significant implications for understanding the prehistoric use of these landscapes, and analysis of reoccupation in these contexts is an important consideration for archaeological investigation of these areas. Though the data potential offered by these sites is high, the time-averaging of surface deposits through frost-heaving, bioturbation, and erosion is a persistent issue which imposes limitations on high elevation research. This paper considers three archaeological sites, situated between 3,375 meters and 3,465 meters in elevation, which were revisited and mapped using high resolution GNSS equipment during the 2019 season. Through GIS analyses of surface artifact distributions, the study examines the structure and spatial character of palimpsest deposits in these high elevation contexts and aims to identify novel techniques for discrimination of reoccupation.
Keywords: High-Elevation, Spatial Analysis, Surface Archaeology
Colorado State University
Hunter-gatherers seasonally occupied the subalpine and alpine ecozones of the Medicine Bow Mountains for some 10,000 years. The reuse of place through time has significant implications for understanding the prehistoric use of these landscapes, and analysis of reoccupation in these contexts is an important consideration for archaeological investigation of these areas. Though the data potential offered by these sites is high, the time-averaging of surface deposits through frost-heaving, bioturbation, and erosion is a persistent issue which imposes limitations on high elevation research. This paper considers three archaeological sites, situated between 3,375 meters and 3,465 meters in elevation, which were revisited and mapped using high resolution GNSS equipment during the 2019 season. Through GIS analyses of surface artifact distributions, the study examines the structure and spatial character of palimpsest deposits in these high elevation contexts and aims to identify novel techniques for discrimination of reoccupation.
Keywords: High-Elevation, Spatial Analysis, Surface Archaeology
Mindy Burkitt - Big Story, Small Claims (Poster)
SWCA Environmental Consultants
An integrated approach between client, community, and archaeologists resulted in the recovery and preservation of historic mine sites that are small in size but rich in information. Newmont Gold Co. contracted SWCA to review and assess documented historic resources on their property, and also reached out the community to identify and preserve its treasured landmarks. This approach ultimately resulted in a geodatabase represented by a digital story map. To produce the story map, SWCA revisited the previous archaeological work, the physical mine sites, and the historic records of the Cripple Creek mining district, prioritized by community input, quality of recordation, and physical integrity. The examples presented here show how this novel and collaborative approach can allow all of us to appreciate the small things while providing a deeper understanding of their role in the landscape, both physical and historic. Or, colloquially, to not lose the trees for the forest.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Stephanie Slaughter, SWCA
Keywords: Historic Gold Mines
SWCA Environmental Consultants
An integrated approach between client, community, and archaeologists resulted in the recovery and preservation of historic mine sites that are small in size but rich in information. Newmont Gold Co. contracted SWCA to review and assess documented historic resources on their property, and also reached out the community to identify and preserve its treasured landmarks. This approach ultimately resulted in a geodatabase represented by a digital story map. To produce the story map, SWCA revisited the previous archaeological work, the physical mine sites, and the historic records of the Cripple Creek mining district, prioritized by community input, quality of recordation, and physical integrity. The examples presented here show how this novel and collaborative approach can allow all of us to appreciate the small things while providing a deeper understanding of their role in the landscape, both physical and historic. Or, colloquially, to not lose the trees for the forest.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Stephanie Slaughter, SWCA
Keywords: Historic Gold Mines
Thomas Carr - Looking at Homelessness through the Lens of Archaeology
Colorado Cultural Research Associates
This project is a visual anthropology photographic study of homeless camps in the Front Range urban corridor of Colorado from an archaeological perspective. It primarily focuses on the areas immediately surrounding Denver. Over the last five years homelessness has exploded and traces of camps can be found in a variety of public lands. This presentation will cover the author's investigation of the material culture associated with camps as well as interviews with camp occupants. As an archaeologist/anthropologist and photographer, the author was interested in what these sites can tell us about human behavior and the human condition. Some of the primary themes identified include the geography of camp location, personal mobility, camp physical characteristics, risk behavior factors, and the structure of communities.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Colorado Cultural Research Associates
Keywords: Homelessness, Photography, Ethnography
Colorado Cultural Research Associates
This project is a visual anthropology photographic study of homeless camps in the Front Range urban corridor of Colorado from an archaeological perspective. It primarily focuses on the areas immediately surrounding Denver. Over the last five years homelessness has exploded and traces of camps can be found in a variety of public lands. This presentation will cover the author's investigation of the material culture associated with camps as well as interviews with camp occupants. As an archaeologist/anthropologist and photographer, the author was interested in what these sites can tell us about human behavior and the human condition. Some of the primary themes identified include the geography of camp location, personal mobility, camp physical characteristics, risk behavior factors, and the structure of communities.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Colorado Cultural Research Associates
Keywords: Homelessness, Photography, Ethnography
Autumn Cool - Civilian Conservation Corps Archaeology, Preservation, and Interpretation Near Castle Rock, Colorado
PaleoWest
In 1934, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp DPE-203-C/SCS-7-C was established along McMurdo Gulch near Castle Rock, Colorado. Over seven years, CCC enrollees dramatically transformed the surrounding landscape with diverse water and erosion control structures. The conservation techniques they taught local farmers and ranchers overhauled agricultural practices and reinvigorated the Depression-era economy. Today, suburban housing developments encroach on this historic vernacular landscape. Since 2014, PaleoWest has worked with SLV Castle Oaks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State Historic Preservation Office to record and preserve the legacy of Camp DPE-203-C/SCS-7-C. Combining archaeological inventory, historical research, and public education, PaleoWest identified the camp and dozens of related sites, wrote a historic context, crafted a CCC resource management plan, and helped create interpretive signs and educational materials. We look forward to future collaborations with the growing surrounding community to ensure that these CCC resources remain integral elements of the modern landscape.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Rebecca Schwendler; PaleoWest
Keywords: historic preservation CCC
PaleoWest
In 1934, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp DPE-203-C/SCS-7-C was established along McMurdo Gulch near Castle Rock, Colorado. Over seven years, CCC enrollees dramatically transformed the surrounding landscape with diverse water and erosion control structures. The conservation techniques they taught local farmers and ranchers overhauled agricultural practices and reinvigorated the Depression-era economy. Today, suburban housing developments encroach on this historic vernacular landscape. Since 2014, PaleoWest has worked with SLV Castle Oaks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State Historic Preservation Office to record and preserve the legacy of Camp DPE-203-C/SCS-7-C. Combining archaeological inventory, historical research, and public education, PaleoWest identified the camp and dozens of related sites, wrote a historic context, crafted a CCC resource management plan, and helped create interpretive signs and educational materials. We look forward to future collaborations with the growing surrounding community to ensure that these CCC resources remain integral elements of the modern landscape.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Rebecca Schwendler; PaleoWest
Keywords: historic preservation CCC
Anna Cordova - Introduction: The Middens of General William Jackson Palmer in Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado Springs, CO
City of Colorado Springs
In 2014 the City of Colorado Springs requested FEMA funding for a detention pond along Camp Creek in Garden of the Gods Park as part of flood mitigation efforts in the area. In 2016, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) began work on a project adjacent to the future pond project area. While monitoring this project, the City’s archaeologist discovered the significance of two large historic middens within the APE of both projects and was able to use specific artifacts to connect them definitively with General William Palmer and his estate located just north of the project area. In conjunction with the City, FEMA and NRCS, the sites were tested by Alpine Archaeological Consultants and determined eligible for the NRHP. The detention pond could not be moved or reengineered to avoid the historic sites. Alpine was contracted by The City to perform data recovery in October and November of 2018.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Sara Millward, Alpine; Abbie Harrison, Alpine; Mike Prouty, Alpine
Keywords: Midden, Palmer, excavation
City of Colorado Springs
In 2014 the City of Colorado Springs requested FEMA funding for a detention pond along Camp Creek in Garden of the Gods Park as part of flood mitigation efforts in the area. In 2016, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) began work on a project adjacent to the future pond project area. While monitoring this project, the City’s archaeologist discovered the significance of two large historic middens within the APE of both projects and was able to use specific artifacts to connect them definitively with General William Palmer and his estate located just north of the project area. In conjunction with the City, FEMA and NRCS, the sites were tested by Alpine Archaeological Consultants and determined eligible for the NRHP. The detention pond could not be moved or reengineered to avoid the historic sites. Alpine was contracted by The City to perform data recovery in October and November of 2018.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Sara Millward, Alpine; Abbie Harrison, Alpine; Mike Prouty, Alpine
Keywords: Midden, Palmer, excavation
Anna Cordova - Public Archaeology and What the Palmer Middens Tell Us About Past and Present Colorado Springs
City of Colorado Springs
The Glen Eyrie Middens have given the City of Colorado Springs a rare opportunity to involve the general public in the excavation, interpretation, and presentation of a significant archaeological site. The discovery of these middens that are associated with the estate of the founder of the City of Colorado Springs coincides nicely with the sesquicentennial celebrations taking place over the course of the next two years. From public tours of the site during excavation, multiple presentations about the work, documentation by multiple media outlets, interpretive signage, and a major museum exhibit, these archaeological sites have been, and continue to be an example of the myriad of ways archaeology can be used to interest the public in the richness of the past.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Sara Millward, Alpine; Abbie Harrison, Alpine; Mike Prouty, Alpine
Keywords: Palmer, Midden, public
City of Colorado Springs
The Glen Eyrie Middens have given the City of Colorado Springs a rare opportunity to involve the general public in the excavation, interpretation, and presentation of a significant archaeological site. The discovery of these middens that are associated with the estate of the founder of the City of Colorado Springs coincides nicely with the sesquicentennial celebrations taking place over the course of the next two years. From public tours of the site during excavation, multiple presentations about the work, documentation by multiple media outlets, interpretive signage, and a major museum exhibit, these archaeological sites have been, and continue to be an example of the myriad of ways archaeology can be used to interest the public in the richness of the past.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Sara Millward, Alpine; Abbie Harrison, Alpine; Mike Prouty, Alpine
Keywords: Palmer, Midden, public
Kylie Dillinger* - The 3D Scanning, Printing, and Display of Artifacts
University of Denver
This project tested how people's’ interactions and views on a museum exhibit can be changed with the inclusion of interacting with artifact replicas. This was accomplished by selecting a collection from the DU Museum of Anthropology’s available collections, then utilizing the NextEngine 3D scanner to make digital replicas of the artifacts. Once the digital models are collected and formed accurately, they will be 3D printed to the size of their original counterparts to best represent and imitate the original artifacts scanned. The original and replicated artifacts will be displayed side-by-side in an exhibit on the DU campus with the replica artifacts available to be handled by the visiting public. Visitors will be asked to complete a short survey on their experience to see how interacting with the replica artifacts changed their perceptions on the exhibit as well as their connection to the history and artifacts presented.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: University of Denver
Keywords: 3D Scanning; 3D printing; Interactive
University of Denver
This project tested how people's’ interactions and views on a museum exhibit can be changed with the inclusion of interacting with artifact replicas. This was accomplished by selecting a collection from the DU Museum of Anthropology’s available collections, then utilizing the NextEngine 3D scanner to make digital replicas of the artifacts. Once the digital models are collected and formed accurately, they will be 3D printed to the size of their original counterparts to best represent and imitate the original artifacts scanned. The original and replicated artifacts will be displayed side-by-side in an exhibit on the DU campus with the replica artifacts available to be handled by the visiting public. Visitors will be asked to complete a short survey on their experience to see how interacting with the replica artifacts changed their perceptions on the exhibit as well as their connection to the history and artifacts presented.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: University of Denver
Keywords: 3D Scanning; 3D printing; Interactive
Jenny Engleman - “Should I pick it up?”: Unexploded ordnance, railroad stories, and charcoal production on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest
ERO Resources Corporation
Between 2012 and 2014, ERO Resources Corporation completed 3,760 acres of Class III and Class II survey around the Town of Leadville, Colorado. The area is well-known for silver mining, but other industries were also occurring before and after the Silver Crash of 1893. We expected to find an endless supply of logging and mining roads, prospect pits, can dumps, and the occasional homestead, and we did. However, among the mines we also discovered numerous sites associated with military training at Camp Hale, life on the railroad, and charcoal production. The project results provide new insights and nuance into Leadville’s history. ERO determined that Camp Hale activities extended well beyond expected boundaries and that the charcoal production industry persisted beyond the arrival of the railroad. ERO also uncovered important stories associated with railroad development and use including unique archaeological evidence of Native American railroad workers.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Jonathan Hedlund (ERO Resources Corporation)
Keywords: Leadville, railroad, military
ERO Resources Corporation
Between 2012 and 2014, ERO Resources Corporation completed 3,760 acres of Class III and Class II survey around the Town of Leadville, Colorado. The area is well-known for silver mining, but other industries were also occurring before and after the Silver Crash of 1893. We expected to find an endless supply of logging and mining roads, prospect pits, can dumps, and the occasional homestead, and we did. However, among the mines we also discovered numerous sites associated with military training at Camp Hale, life on the railroad, and charcoal production. The project results provide new insights and nuance into Leadville’s history. ERO determined that Camp Hale activities extended well beyond expected boundaries and that the charcoal production industry persisted beyond the arrival of the railroad. ERO also uncovered important stories associated with railroad development and use including unique archaeological evidence of Native American railroad workers.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Jonathan Hedlund (ERO Resources Corporation)
Keywords: Leadville, railroad, military
Geri Evilla* - Digital Media in Archaeology: Enhancing Research in the Chorunga Valley (Poster)
University of Denver
In 1943 villagers in the Chorunga Valley of Peru excavated a cache of fine Inca and Huari artifacts, at Corral Redondo. The looting and destruction of archaeological sites throughout this valley has resulted in a great loss of knowledge about this region, which has never been scientifically investigated. Those that live here today recognize this loss and desire to preserve and better understand the local cultural heritage. Working in collaboration with the community and the Corral Redondo Project, I produced a documentary about current research in and around Corral Redondo. I collected oral histories from the community and documented archaeological excavation and regional surveys of looted sites. In this project digital media is not only an incredibly rich form of documentation but a way of strengthening our collaborative efforts with this community, engaging the public with archaeology, and promoting the preservation of ancestral places.
Keywords: Visual Anthropology, Public Archaeology
University of Denver
In 1943 villagers in the Chorunga Valley of Peru excavated a cache of fine Inca and Huari artifacts, at Corral Redondo. The looting and destruction of archaeological sites throughout this valley has resulted in a great loss of knowledge about this region, which has never been scientifically investigated. Those that live here today recognize this loss and desire to preserve and better understand the local cultural heritage. Working in collaboration with the community and the Corral Redondo Project, I produced a documentary about current research in and around Corral Redondo. I collected oral histories from the community and documented archaeological excavation and regional surveys of looted sites. In this project digital media is not only an incredibly rich form of documentation but a way of strengthening our collaborative efforts with this community, engaging the public with archaeology, and promoting the preservation of ancestral places.
Keywords: Visual Anthropology, Public Archaeology
Kevin P. Gilmore - Excavations at 5ME13127: Upland Adaptations to Drought and Climate Volatility during the Formative Period in the Upper Colorado River Basin
HDR
Drought is often cited as a driver of prehistoric culture change. The 2000-year tree-ring reconstructed Palmer Drought Severity Index of Cook et al. (2004) provides an annually resolved record of paleoenvironment that allows critical examination of this contention on the Western Slope. Recent excavations at 5ME13127 provide data of prehistoric adaptation to changing climate through changes in settlement and subsistence practices. Our data suggest that significant interannual climate volatility corresponds with culture change and disruption of prehistoric population as often, if not more often, than episodes of relatively severe drought. Similar to drought, volatility reduces net primary productivity and favors non-economically useful plants, but reduces the interannual predictability of critical resources, making carrying capacity unpredictable. We contend that switching to predictable but lower-ranked resources is a necessary a adaptive strategy during episodes of climatic instability. Drought combined with climate volatility could be a significant, disrupting threshold event for prehistoric societies.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Andrew Mueller
Keywords: climate, paleoenvironment
HDR
Drought is often cited as a driver of prehistoric culture change. The 2000-year tree-ring reconstructed Palmer Drought Severity Index of Cook et al. (2004) provides an annually resolved record of paleoenvironment that allows critical examination of this contention on the Western Slope. Recent excavations at 5ME13127 provide data of prehistoric adaptation to changing climate through changes in settlement and subsistence practices. Our data suggest that significant interannual climate volatility corresponds with culture change and disruption of prehistoric population as often, if not more often, than episodes of relatively severe drought. Similar to drought, volatility reduces net primary productivity and favors non-economically useful plants, but reduces the interannual predictability of critical resources, making carrying capacity unpredictable. We contend that switching to predictable but lower-ranked resources is a necessary a adaptive strategy during episodes of climatic instability. Drought combined with climate volatility could be a significant, disrupting threshold event for prehistoric societies.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Andrew Mueller
Keywords: climate, paleoenvironment
Pete Gleichman - The CCPA, Native Americans, and Colorado Archaeology - Retrospect and Prospect
Native Cultural Services
The CCPA provides leadership in Colorado Archaeology in the topics, direction, and manner in which research is conducted; and has a history of being active, responsive and innovative in dealing with Native American (NA) issues and concerns. In 1986 the CCPA held a Panel Discussion on the "Reburial Issue in Colorado" while national organizations were actively hostile to reburial. In 1994 and 2000 symposiums were held on Consultation with NA's. In 1996 the position of NA Representative to the CCPA was established. The 1999 contexts each had sections on NA concerns and perspectives, though with markedly uneven treatment. Much has been accomplished in the progression and transformation of Coloradan and American archaeology in the last 40 years regarding inclusivity of NA descendant communities and cooperative archaeology, and there is much to do. Specific recommendations are given for future prospects on integrative archaeology.
Keywords: CCPA, Native Americans
Native Cultural Services
The CCPA provides leadership in Colorado Archaeology in the topics, direction, and manner in which research is conducted; and has a history of being active, responsive and innovative in dealing with Native American (NA) issues and concerns. In 1986 the CCPA held a Panel Discussion on the "Reburial Issue in Colorado" while national organizations were actively hostile to reburial. In 1994 and 2000 symposiums were held on Consultation with NA's. In 1996 the position of NA Representative to the CCPA was established. The 1999 contexts each had sections on NA concerns and perspectives, though with markedly uneven treatment. Much has been accomplished in the progression and transformation of Coloradan and American archaeology in the last 40 years regarding inclusivity of NA descendant communities and cooperative archaeology, and there is much to do. Specific recommendations are given for future prospects on integrative archaeology.
Keywords: CCPA, Native Americans
Ava Godhardt - A Potential Contemporaneous Late Classic Burial from the Medicinal Trail Hinterland Community in northwestern Belize (Poster)
Western Colorado University
Excavations in the 2019 field season at Group A of the Medicinal Trail Hinterland Community archaeological site in northwestern Belize uncovered the remains of two adult male individuals interred on top of eachother with only a small amount of fill separating the two. Group A, the largest residential complex in the community is located 3 km east of the major polity of La Milpa and has an occupation extending from the end of the Middle Preclassic through the Terminal Classic. The burials consist of highly-preserved and diagnostic fragmentary skeletal remains that include cranial elements with dentition, as well as post-cranial materials. The two individuals exhibit higher levels of preservation as compared to previous burials at this site. This report will examine the excavation process used, the osteobiographies, their significance with regards to Maya mortuary practices, as well as the possible causes for the well-preserved remains.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Lauri Martin; Julie Saul; Dr. David M. Hyde
Keywords: Maya, Bioarchaeology/Skeletal Analysis, Mortuary Archaeology
Western Colorado University
Excavations in the 2019 field season at Group A of the Medicinal Trail Hinterland Community archaeological site in northwestern Belize uncovered the remains of two adult male individuals interred on top of eachother with only a small amount of fill separating the two. Group A, the largest residential complex in the community is located 3 km east of the major polity of La Milpa and has an occupation extending from the end of the Middle Preclassic through the Terminal Classic. The burials consist of highly-preserved and diagnostic fragmentary skeletal remains that include cranial elements with dentition, as well as post-cranial materials. The two individuals exhibit higher levels of preservation as compared to previous burials at this site. This report will examine the excavation process used, the osteobiographies, their significance with regards to Maya mortuary practices, as well as the possible causes for the well-preserved remains.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Lauri Martin; Julie Saul; Dr. David M. Hyde
Keywords: Maya, Bioarchaeology/Skeletal Analysis, Mortuary Archaeology
Sheila Goff - Ute STEM: Collaborative Work with Tribes, Museums, and Archaeologists
Ute Indian Tribe
History Colorado, in partnership with the three Ute tribes, Dominguez Archaeological Research Group and University of Kansas, were awarded a $2.2 million National Science Foundation Grant to explore the integration of Native American traditional knowledge with Western science, technology, engineering and math. The project is now in its fourth of five years. Participants in the project will share the collaborative activities completed thus far, focusing on archaeology and ethnobotany field work. This includes archaeological training at the North Carnero Ute site and the use of USFS land as a “platform” for Ute youth and elders to re-connect with Ute ancestral landscapes and STEM learning. Participants will discuss the impact of STEM experiences on them and the greater museum audiences. They will discuss the collaborative process developed among partners.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Ute Indian Tribe
Keywords: Collaboration, integration, STEM
Ute Indian Tribe
History Colorado, in partnership with the three Ute tribes, Dominguez Archaeological Research Group and University of Kansas, were awarded a $2.2 million National Science Foundation Grant to explore the integration of Native American traditional knowledge with Western science, technology, engineering and math. The project is now in its fourth of five years. Participants in the project will share the collaborative activities completed thus far, focusing on archaeology and ethnobotany field work. This includes archaeological training at the North Carnero Ute site and the use of USFS land as a “platform” for Ute youth and elders to re-connect with Ute ancestral landscapes and STEM learning. Participants will discuss the impact of STEM experiences on them and the greater museum audiences. They will discuss the collaborative process developed among partners.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Ute Indian Tribe
Keywords: Collaboration, integration, STEM
Rand Greubel - Opening Hearts and Minds: Collaboration in Action on the US 550/160 Connection Project
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
In the spring and summer of 2018 and 2019, Applied Archaeology International teamed with Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. to implement a Tribal Engagement and Outreach Program (TEOP), representing a major part of Alpine’s public outreach effort for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s US 550/160 Connection data recovery project near Durango, Colorado. The goal of the TEOP writ large was to initiate a dialogue between archaeologists and interested tribal groups and individuals, especially young people, for the mutual sharing of knowledge and cultural awareness. Implicit in this outreach effort was a desire to engage Native American communities and young people in the processes and objectives of archaeological excavation, but equally to expose archaeologists to traditional Native American ways of knowing and respecting the past. This presentation will discuss one archaeologist’s perspective on the outcomes of the US 550/160 TEOP.
Keywords: Collaboration, Ancestral Puebloan, Durango
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
In the spring and summer of 2018 and 2019, Applied Archaeology International teamed with Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. to implement a Tribal Engagement and Outreach Program (TEOP), representing a major part of Alpine’s public outreach effort for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s US 550/160 Connection data recovery project near Durango, Colorado. The goal of the TEOP writ large was to initiate a dialogue between archaeologists and interested tribal groups and individuals, especially young people, for the mutual sharing of knowledge and cultural awareness. Implicit in this outreach effort was a desire to engage Native American communities and young people in the processes and objectives of archaeological excavation, but equally to expose archaeologists to traditional Native American ways of knowing and respecting the past. This presentation will discuss one archaeologist’s perspective on the outcomes of the US 550/160 TEOP.
Keywords: Collaboration, Ancestral Puebloan, Durango
David Guilfoyle - Reflections of a Tribal Engagement and Outreach Program: The US 550/160 Connection Project
Applied Archaeology International
As part of the archaeological mitigation project of several Ancestral Puebloan occupation sites within a highway right-of-way corridor, a Tribal Engagement and Outreach (TEOP) program was developed and delivered. The intent was to develop a flexible approach to engagement as determined by cultural advisors. This paper provides a brief overview of how the TEOP was structured and delivered, in the analysis of key outcomes, challenges, and limitations. In this review, we examine the insights gained on cultural perspectives to the archaeological process and alternative ideas to mitigation, in the interests of advancing collaborative approaches into the future. We examine the program from the perspective of the TEOP coordinator (white, male archaeologist); an intern engaged through Southern Ute Education as a field technician; and an Elder involved throughout the course of the two-year field project as a TEOP supervisor and youth engagement leader.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Ernest "Muz" Pinnecoose; Cameron Weaver
Keywords: community collaborative outreach
Applied Archaeology International
As part of the archaeological mitigation project of several Ancestral Puebloan occupation sites within a highway right-of-way corridor, a Tribal Engagement and Outreach (TEOP) program was developed and delivered. The intent was to develop a flexible approach to engagement as determined by cultural advisors. This paper provides a brief overview of how the TEOP was structured and delivered, in the analysis of key outcomes, challenges, and limitations. In this review, we examine the insights gained on cultural perspectives to the archaeological process and alternative ideas to mitigation, in the interests of advancing collaborative approaches into the future. We examine the program from the perspective of the TEOP coordinator (white, male archaeologist); an intern engaged through Southern Ute Education as a field technician; and an Elder involved throughout the course of the two-year field project as a TEOP supervisor and youth engagement leader.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Ernest "Muz" Pinnecoose; Cameron Weaver
Keywords: community collaborative outreach
Abbie Harrison - Beyond Diet: Plant Evidence from the Palmer’s Estate Midden
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Recent excavations completed by Alpine at two midden locations (sites 5EP7334 and 5EP7352) associated with the William Jackson Palmer family estate have provided opportunities to explore the important and diverse rolls that plants played at the estate. This archaeological evidence was then supplemented with the historical record, including personal journal entries and photos, to determine how the plants were used. Historical and archaeological evidence indicates that plants were used for food, ornamental and medicinal purposes, construction materials, and domestic items. Overall, the archaeological plant evidence supports both the ordinary and extraordinary accounts of daily life and operations at the estate.
Keywords: Palmer, Midden, Plants
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Recent excavations completed by Alpine at two midden locations (sites 5EP7334 and 5EP7352) associated with the William Jackson Palmer family estate have provided opportunities to explore the important and diverse rolls that plants played at the estate. This archaeological evidence was then supplemented with the historical record, including personal journal entries and photos, to determine how the plants were used. Historical and archaeological evidence indicates that plants were used for food, ornamental and medicinal purposes, construction materials, and domestic items. Overall, the archaeological plant evidence supports both the ordinary and extraordinary accounts of daily life and operations at the estate.
Keywords: Palmer, Midden, Plants
Elena Haverluk* - The Days After Colorado’s Darkest Day: How Art Supports Research and Public Engagement (Poster)
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA), Colorado State University (CSU)
Julesburg Station (5SW26) is located in Sedgewick County, Colorado. In 1865, the Station became the focal point of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota response to the Sand Creek Massacre. Metal detector surveys were conducted throughout the site in an effort to confirm the exact location of the station, and over 2,500 artifacts were recovered. Many of these artifacts display layers of rust and patinas that can make visual analysis difficult, and consequentially, it can be difficult to effectively capture these critical details in photographs. Small details can be important for identifying each artifact, but are often obscured by wear and rust. Through the illustration of 25 artifacts from the site, this project aims to capture and preserve important details that cannot be photographed well. These illustrations can subsequently be used to supplement digital curation of collections, as well as for outreach such as blog posts or educational material.
Keywords: Julesburg, Illustration, Outreach
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA), Colorado State University (CSU)
Julesburg Station (5SW26) is located in Sedgewick County, Colorado. In 1865, the Station became the focal point of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota response to the Sand Creek Massacre. Metal detector surveys were conducted throughout the site in an effort to confirm the exact location of the station, and over 2,500 artifacts were recovered. Many of these artifacts display layers of rust and patinas that can make visual analysis difficult, and consequentially, it can be difficult to effectively capture these critical details in photographs. Small details can be important for identifying each artifact, but are often obscured by wear and rust. Through the illustration of 25 artifacts from the site, this project aims to capture and preserve important details that cannot be photographed well. These illustrations can subsequently be used to supplement digital curation of collections, as well as for outreach such as blog posts or educational material.
Keywords: Julesburg, Illustration, Outreach
Daniel Hemler* - The Days After Colorado’s Darkest Day: Using ARCGIS to Identify Site Extent, Features, and Activity Areas (Poster)
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology, Colorado State University
On January 7 and February 2, 1865, Julesburg Stage Station (5SW26) in Sedgwick County, Colorado was attacked by the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota in response to the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. During the second attack, the stage station was burnt to the ground and never reconstructed. In the summer of 2019, the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA) and volunteers from the Eureka! Metal Detector Club in Denver conducted a metal detector survey of the site in order to identify the station’s exact location. During the 9-day project over 2,500 artifacts were recovered. Using ARCGIS’ spatial analysis tools we are able to analyze the extent of the site, identify potential feature locations, and analyze activity zones across the site. This analysis is critical to understanding how the site was used and to overcome the challenges of attributing artifacts to the specific conflict period in 1865.
Keywords: Historical Archaeology, Conflict Archaeology, GIS
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology, Colorado State University
On January 7 and February 2, 1865, Julesburg Stage Station (5SW26) in Sedgwick County, Colorado was attacked by the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota in response to the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. During the second attack, the stage station was burnt to the ground and never reconstructed. In the summer of 2019, the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA) and volunteers from the Eureka! Metal Detector Club in Denver conducted a metal detector survey of the site in order to identify the station’s exact location. During the 9-day project over 2,500 artifacts were recovered. Using ARCGIS’ spatial analysis tools we are able to analyze the extent of the site, identify potential feature locations, and analyze activity zones across the site. This analysis is critical to understanding how the site was used and to overcome the challenges of attributing artifacts to the specific conflict period in 1865.
Keywords: Historical Archaeology, Conflict Archaeology, GIS
Ted Hoefer - Archaeological Investigations at the Meadowlark Terrace Site (5AH04)
Logan Simpson
The Meadowlark Terrace Site (5AH04) is located on the eastern terraces of West Bijou Creek. The site was originally discovered in 1963 by the University of Colorado Museum and subsequently investigated in 2001, 2004, and 2009. In 2016 Mike McFaul and Dante Knapp conducted a geoarchaeological investigation at the site. They delineated the alluvial terrace sequence at the site and provided radiocarbon estimates from 8100 to 3100 years before present (B.P.). Unfortunately, some of the radiocarbon estimates were inverted. This investigation centered on two tasks. The first is a paleoenvironmental analysis conducted in partnership with PaleoResearch Institute. The second task was the excavation Early Ceramic camp containing cord-marked pottery, animal bone, a lithic assemblage centered on tool maintenance, and a radiocarbon estimate from a thermal feature of 1760+/- 20 B.P. (2-sigma calibrated date of 1730-160 CAL years B.P.). Prospects of further work at the site will be discussed.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Gordon Tucker Jr., Ph.D. - AECOM
Keywords: Paleoenvironment, Early Ceramic
Logan Simpson
The Meadowlark Terrace Site (5AH04) is located on the eastern terraces of West Bijou Creek. The site was originally discovered in 1963 by the University of Colorado Museum and subsequently investigated in 2001, 2004, and 2009. In 2016 Mike McFaul and Dante Knapp conducted a geoarchaeological investigation at the site. They delineated the alluvial terrace sequence at the site and provided radiocarbon estimates from 8100 to 3100 years before present (B.P.). Unfortunately, some of the radiocarbon estimates were inverted. This investigation centered on two tasks. The first is a paleoenvironmental analysis conducted in partnership with PaleoResearch Institute. The second task was the excavation Early Ceramic camp containing cord-marked pottery, animal bone, a lithic assemblage centered on tool maintenance, and a radiocarbon estimate from a thermal feature of 1760+/- 20 B.P. (2-sigma calibrated date of 1730-160 CAL years B.P.). Prospects of further work at the site will be discussed.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Gordon Tucker Jr., Ph.D. - AECOM
Keywords: Paleoenvironment, Early Ceramic
Talle Hogrefe - Tribal Consultation Helps Mend a Significant Site (Poster)
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
In 2018, Metcalf Archaeology Consultants on behalf of Terracon, conducted a survey for the replacement of a telecommunications tower as part of the FirstNet program. The original tower was built within, and damaged, a known prehistoric site (5WL7226). This survey resulted in an assessment of the site including an evaluation of surface artifacts (tools and flakes), stone circle and hearth features, and conducted shovel test probes, concluding the site exhibits a depositional environment for subsurface materials. Terracon acted as a liaison between the client, the Pawnee Nation, the Northern Cheyenne, and Weld County. An in-person consultation at 5WL7226 among these diverse groups led to a mutually agreed-upon strategy to address damage to the site and mitigate future impacts. Meeting in person created a more personal connection to understand why the tower and the site were significant to all involved.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Elizabeth Newcomb
Keywords: Tribal, Future, Diverse
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
In 2018, Metcalf Archaeology Consultants on behalf of Terracon, conducted a survey for the replacement of a telecommunications tower as part of the FirstNet program. The original tower was built within, and damaged, a known prehistoric site (5WL7226). This survey resulted in an assessment of the site including an evaluation of surface artifacts (tools and flakes), stone circle and hearth features, and conducted shovel test probes, concluding the site exhibits a depositional environment for subsurface materials. Terracon acted as a liaison between the client, the Pawnee Nation, the Northern Cheyenne, and Weld County. An in-person consultation at 5WL7226 among these diverse groups led to a mutually agreed-upon strategy to address damage to the site and mitigate future impacts. Meeting in person created a more personal connection to understand why the tower and the site were significant to all involved.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Elizabeth Newcomb
Keywords: Tribal, Future, Diverse
David Hyde - Re-evaluation of CT Hurst’s Tabeguache Cave Excavations (Poster)
Western Colorado University
In the 1930s and 1940s, Clarence Thomas Hurst of Western State College of Colorado (now Western Colorado University) conducted undergraduate archaeological field schools in several cave sites on the southwest edge of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Shortly after each field school Hurst published a report on his field season in Southwestern Lore. Throughout his reports he noted the similarity of the Tabeguache artifacts to archaeological material recovered in the “Northern Periphery” of the Southwest, specifically to that reported by Noel Morss in the Fremont River drainage of Utah.
In 2018, a State Historic Fund Grant funded an inventory of the artifacts in the Hurst museum. It was soon apparent that these archaeological materials and Hurst’s conclusions were quite relevant to but ignored by recent discussions regarding the culture history of western Colorado, specifically the “Gateway” Tradition, Phase, or Culture. We conclude that the “Gateway” construct complicates communication and comprehension and should be discarded.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Mark Stiger
Keywords: Tabeguache
Western Colorado University
In the 1930s and 1940s, Clarence Thomas Hurst of Western State College of Colorado (now Western Colorado University) conducted undergraduate archaeological field schools in several cave sites on the southwest edge of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Shortly after each field school Hurst published a report on his field season in Southwestern Lore. Throughout his reports he noted the similarity of the Tabeguache artifacts to archaeological material recovered in the “Northern Periphery” of the Southwest, specifically to that reported by Noel Morss in the Fremont River drainage of Utah.
In 2018, a State Historic Fund Grant funded an inventory of the artifacts in the Hurst museum. It was soon apparent that these archaeological materials and Hurst’s conclusions were quite relevant to but ignored by recent discussions regarding the culture history of western Colorado, specifically the “Gateway” Tradition, Phase, or Culture. We conclude that the “Gateway” construct complicates communication and comprehension and should be discarded.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Mark Stiger
Keywords: Tabeguache
Scott Ingram - Sustainability and Population Decline in the 13th through 15th Century US Southwest and Mexican Northwest
Colorado College - Assistant Professor
Tens of thousands of people were on the move in the US Southwest and Mexican Northwest during the 13th through 15th centuries. By the end of the 15th century, population levels declined by about 50% through population loss and migration. As archaeologists, our research questions are stimulated by contemporary sustainability concerns and we ask the past for insights and context. Archaeologists are increasingly expected to identify the broader and contemporary impacts of our research. We present a model for how this can be done by using the United Nations Development Programme's Human Securities framework. Through this approach we present the results of the first systematic, cross-case comparative study of the social and environmental conditions leading to demographic decline in the US Southwest and NW Mexico.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Shelby Patrick
Keywords: sustainability, depopulation, demography
Colorado College - Assistant Professor
Tens of thousands of people were on the move in the US Southwest and Mexican Northwest during the 13th through 15th centuries. By the end of the 15th century, population levels declined by about 50% through population loss and migration. As archaeologists, our research questions are stimulated by contemporary sustainability concerns and we ask the past for insights and context. Archaeologists are increasingly expected to identify the broader and contemporary impacts of our research. We present a model for how this can be done by using the United Nations Development Programme's Human Securities framework. Through this approach we present the results of the first systematic, cross-case comparative study of the social and environmental conditions leading to demographic decline in the US Southwest and NW Mexico.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Shelby Patrick
Keywords: sustainability, depopulation, demography
Dan Jepson - Merging Archaeology and Tribal Public Outreach: The US 550/160 Connection Project
Colorado Department of Transportation
In 2018 and 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation facilitated pre-construction data recovery excavations at seven Ancestral Puebloan sites located within the alignment of a proposed new segment of US Highway 550 south of Durango. Twelve Pueblo I period pithouses of varying residential and ceremonial utility were discovered, in addition to tens-of-thousands of ceramic, flaked stone, and groundstone artifacts and ancillary samples. Several regional Native American tribes participated in the project as consulting parties under the Section 106 regulations, including conferring on the disposition, treatment, and ultimate reburial of human remains. CDOT also implemented a robust public outreach program focused on tribal youth. Facilitated by an experienced consultant in cooperation with tribal elders and Indigenous education professionals, Ute and Hopi youth and young adults participated in a variety of educational activities, as well as internship and employment opportunities focused on Native cultural heritage in the context of archaeology.
Keywords: Highway 550/160, tribal public outreach
Colorado Department of Transportation
In 2018 and 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation facilitated pre-construction data recovery excavations at seven Ancestral Puebloan sites located within the alignment of a proposed new segment of US Highway 550 south of Durango. Twelve Pueblo I period pithouses of varying residential and ceremonial utility were discovered, in addition to tens-of-thousands of ceramic, flaked stone, and groundstone artifacts and ancillary samples. Several regional Native American tribes participated in the project as consulting parties under the Section 106 regulations, including conferring on the disposition, treatment, and ultimate reburial of human remains. CDOT also implemented a robust public outreach program focused on tribal youth. Facilitated by an experienced consultant in cooperation with tribal elders and Indigenous education professionals, Ute and Hopi youth and young adults participated in a variety of educational activities, as well as internship and employment opportunities focused on Native cultural heritage in the context of archaeology.
Keywords: Highway 550/160, tribal public outreach
Elena Jimenez* - Conejos County Hispano Sheepherding Archaeology and History Project (Poster)
USDA Forest Service
Since its first introduction to the San Luis Valley in the mid-1800s, Hispano sheepherding has become embedded in the local economy and way of life. By the late 1800s, the San Luis Valley was the largest exporter of livestock in the country. Understanding and preserving the history of sheepherding in this region goes hand-in-hand with understanding and preserving the cultural history of the Valley.The purpose of this study is to document and explore the historical context of Hispano shepherding in Conejos County with a particular focus on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest, where the first attempts at permanent settlements and ranching began. The study includes mapping archaeological sites associated with sheepherding to understand the historical extension of sheepherding through the national forest, and the collection and transcribing of oral histories from Hispano sheepherding families in the region.
Keywords: Sheepherding, Hispanic, Cultural Heritage
USDA Forest Service
Since its first introduction to the San Luis Valley in the mid-1800s, Hispano sheepherding has become embedded in the local economy and way of life. By the late 1800s, the San Luis Valley was the largest exporter of livestock in the country. Understanding and preserving the history of sheepherding in this region goes hand-in-hand with understanding and preserving the cultural history of the Valley.The purpose of this study is to document and explore the historical context of Hispano shepherding in Conejos County with a particular focus on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest, where the first attempts at permanent settlements and ranching began. The study includes mapping archaeological sites associated with sheepherding to understand the historical extension of sheepherding through the national forest, and the collection and transcribing of oral histories from Hispano sheepherding families in the region.
Keywords: Sheepherding, Hispanic, Cultural Heritage
Elena Jimenez - Conejos County Hispano Sheepherding Archaeology and History Project
USDA Forest Service
Since its first introduction to the San Luis Valley in the mid-1800s, Hispano sheepherding has become embedded in the local economy and way of life. By the late 1800s, the San Luis Valley was the largest exporter of livestock in the country. Understanding and preserving the history of sheepherding in this region goes hand-in-hand with understanding and preserving the cultural history of the Valley. The purpose of this study is to document and explore the historical context of Hispano shepherding in Conejos County with a particular focus on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest, where the first attempts at permanent settlements and ranching began. The study includes mapping archaeological sites associated with sheepherding to understand the historical extension of sheepherding through the national forest, and the collection and transcribing of oral histories from Hispano sheepherding families in the region.
Keywords: Hispanic, Sheep, Heritage
USDA Forest Service
Since its first introduction to the San Luis Valley in the mid-1800s, Hispano sheepherding has become embedded in the local economy and way of life. By the late 1800s, the San Luis Valley was the largest exporter of livestock in the country. Understanding and preserving the history of sheepherding in this region goes hand-in-hand with understanding and preserving the cultural history of the Valley. The purpose of this study is to document and explore the historical context of Hispano shepherding in Conejos County with a particular focus on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest, where the first attempts at permanent settlements and ranching began. The study includes mapping archaeological sites associated with sheepherding to understand the historical extension of sheepherding through the national forest, and the collection and transcribing of oral histories from Hispano sheepherding families in the region.
Keywords: Hispanic, Sheep, Heritage
Angie Krall & Mark Mitchell - Collecting Data and Cultivating Community: A Retrospective of 10 Years of Federal Land Stewardship and Citizen Science in the San Luis Valley of Colorado
US Forest Service
In this paper we report on the fruitful collaboration between a federal land manager and a scholar who share a fascination with the archaeology and history of the San Luis Valley and are working together to preserve and interpret the region’s heritage. Among our many joint projects, we focus on our work at three especially important sites located on lands managed by the Rio Grande National Forest and the BLM’s San Luis Valley Field Office. We show how the three vital strands of public participation, sound scholarship, and a balanced approach to cultural resource management can be woven together to yield both a more robust understanding of the past and better management of the nation’s heritage. These projects also highlight the importance of public lands for building knowledge and connecting people to the past.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Mark Mitchell, Paleocultural Research Group
Keywords: Public Archaeology, Federal Lands
US Forest Service
In this paper we report on the fruitful collaboration between a federal land manager and a scholar who share a fascination with the archaeology and history of the San Luis Valley and are working together to preserve and interpret the region’s heritage. Among our many joint projects, we focus on our work at three especially important sites located on lands managed by the Rio Grande National Forest and the BLM’s San Luis Valley Field Office. We show how the three vital strands of public participation, sound scholarship, and a balanced approach to cultural resource management can be woven together to yield both a more robust understanding of the past and better management of the nation’s heritage. These projects also highlight the importance of public lands for building knowledge and connecting people to the past.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Mark Mitchell, Paleocultural Research Group
Keywords: Public Archaeology, Federal Lands
Jason LaBelle - “Folsom Point Diggings”: Rediscovery of the Johnson Folsom site in the Foothills of Northern Colorado
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology, Colorado State University
Russell Johnson discovered the Johnson Folsom site in 1936, which led Marie Wormington and the Colorado Museum of Natural History to test the site later that year. Over the following 25 years, additional field parties excavated the site, culminating in Gene Galloway and George Agogino’s 1961 Plains Anthropologist publication on the site. Since then the site has received little attention, in part because no one knew what happened to the artifacts. The collection from the 1936 work was recently located and analyzed for this project. The Johnson collection contains mostly tools, including Folsom points, preforms, channel flakes, end scrapers, gravers, other flake tools, and debitage. The discarded Folsom weaponry is made of high quality raw materials, much of it from non-local sources, while the preforms are made of local quartzite. The site represents a retooling locale in the Larimer County foothills.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Kelton A. Meyer (Colorado State University); Raymond V. Sumner (Colorado State University)
Keywords: Folsom, Paleoindian, Lithics
Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology, Colorado State University
Russell Johnson discovered the Johnson Folsom site in 1936, which led Marie Wormington and the Colorado Museum of Natural History to test the site later that year. Over the following 25 years, additional field parties excavated the site, culminating in Gene Galloway and George Agogino’s 1961 Plains Anthropologist publication on the site. Since then the site has received little attention, in part because no one knew what happened to the artifacts. The collection from the 1936 work was recently located and analyzed for this project. The Johnson collection contains mostly tools, including Folsom points, preforms, channel flakes, end scrapers, gravers, other flake tools, and debitage. The discarded Folsom weaponry is made of high quality raw materials, much of it from non-local sources, while the preforms are made of local quartzite. The site represents a retooling locale in the Larimer County foothills.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Kelton A. Meyer (Colorado State University); Raymond V. Sumner (Colorado State University)
Keywords: Folsom, Paleoindian, Lithics
Matthew Landt - Hispano Heritage in Western Colorado
Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
Hispano citizens in Montrose, Colorado have recently responded to gentrifying developments in their neighborhood by informing the City Council that a morada, an important part of their Catholic heritage, was at risk of destruction. The City hired Alpine to assess the archaeological nature of the morada. While archaeologists often talk about resources, the community has memories of their families’ involvement at the morada. These memories provide a direct association to past events that are not retained in any other form or any other place. By working with local descendant community members, Alpine has engaged SHF support to expand the community’s research and better understand at-risk Hispano Catholic Heritage resources in Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties. We hope that this grass-roots effort will lead to a historic context of Hispano resources for professionals while facilitating a better understanding for our community of the underrepresented Hispano presence on Colorado’s Western Slope.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Karen Sherman Perez (Hispanic Affairs Project)
Keywords: Hispano, Montrose, morada
Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
Hispano citizens in Montrose, Colorado have recently responded to gentrifying developments in their neighborhood by informing the City Council that a morada, an important part of their Catholic heritage, was at risk of destruction. The City hired Alpine to assess the archaeological nature of the morada. While archaeologists often talk about resources, the community has memories of their families’ involvement at the morada. These memories provide a direct association to past events that are not retained in any other form or any other place. By working with local descendant community members, Alpine has engaged SHF support to expand the community’s research and better understand at-risk Hispano Catholic Heritage resources in Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties. We hope that this grass-roots effort will lead to a historic context of Hispano resources for professionals while facilitating a better understanding for our community of the underrepresented Hispano presence on Colorado’s Western Slope.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Karen Sherman Perez (Hispanic Affairs Project)
Keywords: Hispano, Montrose, morada
Karin Larkin - The Ludlow Massacre Site: Reflections on Collaboration
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
The scholarly work around the Ludlow Massacre site offers an interesting case study in collaboration. From the origin of the project, the Colorado Coalfield War Archaeological Project (CCWAP) was a joint project between the University of Denver, SUNY Binghamton, Fort Lewis College, and the United Mine Workers of America. The project originally formed to focus an archaeological lens on the social and material conditions of coal camp laborers and their families during a turbulent time of widespread industrial growth and corporate imperialism in America. The collaboration surrounding this site grew over the decades and culminated in the Ludlow Centennial Commemoration Commission. Just like the Ludlow Massacre had lasting impacts on labor law, my work on this project had lasting impacts on my views of collaboration, stewardship, and public scholarship. Here I reflect on my experiences and how those experiences have permanently altered my archaeological practice.
Keywords: Ludlow Massacre, Collaboration, Public Archaeology
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
The scholarly work around the Ludlow Massacre site offers an interesting case study in collaboration. From the origin of the project, the Colorado Coalfield War Archaeological Project (CCWAP) was a joint project between the University of Denver, SUNY Binghamton, Fort Lewis College, and the United Mine Workers of America. The project originally formed to focus an archaeological lens on the social and material conditions of coal camp laborers and their families during a turbulent time of widespread industrial growth and corporate imperialism in America. The collaboration surrounding this site grew over the decades and culminated in the Ludlow Centennial Commemoration Commission. Just like the Ludlow Massacre had lasting impacts on labor law, my work on this project had lasting impacts on my views of collaboration, stewardship, and public scholarship. Here I reflect on my experiences and how those experiences have permanently altered my archaeological practice.
Keywords: Ludlow Massacre, Collaboration, Public Archaeology
Emily Long - I Am Woman, Hear Me Podcast: Promoting Diverse Voices and Topics Through the Women in Archaeology Podcast
Natural Resources Conservation Service; Colorado Mesa University
Podcasting can provide archaeology a platform to not only showcase exciting finds, but also promote unique topics and historically undervalued voices. The Women in Archaeology Podcast group attempts to shed light on a wide range of topics while promoting the voices of women in the field.
Keywords: Podcasting, Diversity, Women
Natural Resources Conservation Service; Colorado Mesa University
Podcasting can provide archaeology a platform to not only showcase exciting finds, but also promote unique topics and historically undervalued voices. The Women in Archaeology Podcast group attempts to shed light on a wide range of topics while promoting the voices of women in the field.
Keywords: Podcasting, Diversity, Women
Bruce Lutz - Just So Stories: Problems in Archaeological Interpretation
CSU Pueblo (retired)
This paper may seem out of place in a conference on Colorado archaeology. However, its focus is one that is archaeologically universal, that of interpretation. Many of us have wrestled with this predicament. “Just So Stories” is a children’s’ book written by Rudyard Kipling. These were imaginary accounts of how animals acquired their characteristics. Merriam-Webster defines these narratives as “speculative stories or explanations of doubtful or unprovable validity that is put forward to account for the origin of something when no verifiable explanation is known.” Leaving the word “doubtful” aside many archaeological explanations are verifiable only to the extent that they appear to account for a set of “facts.” But the set of “facts” used can lead to quite different interpretations. This paper explores the problem using two sets of “facts” relating to Neanderthal linguistic and cognitive abilities as examples.
Keywords: Archaeological Interpretation
CSU Pueblo (retired)
This paper may seem out of place in a conference on Colorado archaeology. However, its focus is one that is archaeologically universal, that of interpretation. Many of us have wrestled with this predicament. “Just So Stories” is a children’s’ book written by Rudyard Kipling. These were imaginary accounts of how animals acquired their characteristics. Merriam-Webster defines these narratives as “speculative stories or explanations of doubtful or unprovable validity that is put forward to account for the origin of something when no verifiable explanation is known.” Leaving the word “doubtful” aside many archaeological explanations are verifiable only to the extent that they appear to account for a set of “facts.” But the set of “facts” used can lead to quite different interpretations. This paper explores the problem using two sets of “facts” relating to Neanderthal linguistic and cognitive abilities as examples.
Keywords: Archaeological Interpretation
Todd McMahon - Not the End of the Story - Inspiring Local Communities to Utilize Existing State Collections, a Goal with Tremendous Long-term Benefits
History Colorado
The curation of artifacts after field analysis is often thought of as just the last step of a successful study. Yet existing collections hold the potential to easily test new ideas and excite local communities that hold these collections. Over the past several years History Colorado’s Office of the State Archaeologist has strengthened our program support and promoted best practices curation of our State’s collections within a diverse and dispersed network of State-Approved museums and repositories. This curation network appeals to many different political factions and regions within a geographically and politically diverse state. By actively promoting enhanced levels of collection’s care as well as the accessibility of data for reanalysis by students/researchers and offering opportunities for local community museums/repositories to exhibit and highlight “under-appreciated collections” we can forge a new impactful appreciation for all our archaeological resources.
Keywords: Curation Reanalysis Communities
History Colorado
The curation of artifacts after field analysis is often thought of as just the last step of a successful study. Yet existing collections hold the potential to easily test new ideas and excite local communities that hold these collections. Over the past several years History Colorado’s Office of the State Archaeologist has strengthened our program support and promoted best practices curation of our State’s collections within a diverse and dispersed network of State-Approved museums and repositories. This curation network appeals to many different political factions and regions within a geographically and politically diverse state. By actively promoting enhanced levels of collection’s care as well as the accessibility of data for reanalysis by students/researchers and offering opportunities for local community museums/repositories to exhibit and highlight “under-appreciated collections” we can forge a new impactful appreciation for all our archaeological resources.
Keywords: Curation Reanalysis Communities
Sara Millward - A Look at the Everyday: Early Estate Life at Glen Eyrie
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Artifacts recovered by Alpine Archaeological Consultants during recent excavations at site 5EP7334 date between the 1880s and early 1900s, which coincides with the initial remodeling of Glen Eyrie by General William Jackson Palmer. The discovery of items related to the estate construction, as well as household and personal artifacts, provides the opportunity to develop a more nuanced understanding of the estate’s occupants prior to the increase in familial wealth in 1901. This paper will discuss the results of excavations at the site and how they have contributed to our understanding of the Palmer estate prior to 1900.
Keywords: Historical Archaeology, Glen Eyrie
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Artifacts recovered by Alpine Archaeological Consultants during recent excavations at site 5EP7334 date between the 1880s and early 1900s, which coincides with the initial remodeling of Glen Eyrie by General William Jackson Palmer. The discovery of items related to the estate construction, as well as household and personal artifacts, provides the opportunity to develop a more nuanced understanding of the estate’s occupants prior to the increase in familial wealth in 1901. This paper will discuss the results of excavations at the site and how they have contributed to our understanding of the Palmer estate prior to 1900.
Keywords: Historical Archaeology, Glen Eyrie
Megan Mueller - Hall Valley Smelter: Initial Reevaluation of Colorado’s Nineteenth Century Precious Metals Smelters
HDR
Nineteenth century precious metal smelter sites in Colorado’s High Country are some of the least documented of the small-scale industrial sites. These small smelters experienced the same boom-bust cycles as their associated mining districts, and have been reduced to archaeological sites since abandonment. The Hall Valley Smelter (5PA313) is a relatively well-documented historically providing a good comparative example that can be applied to similar sites. The site was originally recorded in 1977, but limited information was collected. A revisit of the site was conducted in 2018 to evaluate the extent of the surviving remains. Prior to the visit, GLO plat maps were georectified and historical photographs were gathered to help identify previously undocumented features. During the field visit, 15 features were identified, of which four were from the plat maps. The visit to 5PA313 will serve as a baseline for documenting additional smelter sites starting in 2020.
Keywords: Smelter; Industry
HDR
Nineteenth century precious metal smelter sites in Colorado’s High Country are some of the least documented of the small-scale industrial sites. These small smelters experienced the same boom-bust cycles as their associated mining districts, and have been reduced to archaeological sites since abandonment. The Hall Valley Smelter (5PA313) is a relatively well-documented historically providing a good comparative example that can be applied to similar sites. The site was originally recorded in 1977, but limited information was collected. A revisit of the site was conducted in 2018 to evaluate the extent of the surviving remains. Prior to the visit, GLO plat maps were georectified and historical photographs were gathered to help identify previously undocumented features. During the field visit, 15 features were identified, of which four were from the plat maps. The visit to 5PA313 will serve as a baseline for documenting additional smelter sites starting in 2020.
Keywords: Smelter; Industry
Cindy Nasky - Preservation Easements - A Mitigation Tool
Colorado Historical Foundation (Architectural Historical)
Whether you like it or not, "progress" is reaching every corner of our great state, motivated (and often forced) by a hearty economic climate and dramatically shifting demographics. How do we effectively preserve those historic buildings, structures, archaeological sites, Main Streets, historic landscapes, etc. that define our collective identity? Cindy Nasky of the Colorado Historical Foundation will offer a casual (and brief - this stuff is dry!) discussion of easements as a strategic property protection tool available to archaeologist and preservationists. Easement can be a 106 remedy or method to 'offset adverse effect'. Are easements as scary and limiting as they sound, or can they be an active and comforting part of your professional toolbox?
Keywords: Easements, Section 106 Remedy
Colorado Historical Foundation (Architectural Historical)
Whether you like it or not, "progress" is reaching every corner of our great state, motivated (and often forced) by a hearty economic climate and dramatically shifting demographics. How do we effectively preserve those historic buildings, structures, archaeological sites, Main Streets, historic landscapes, etc. that define our collective identity? Cindy Nasky of the Colorado Historical Foundation will offer a casual (and brief - this stuff is dry!) discussion of easements as a strategic property protection tool available to archaeologist and preservationists. Easement can be a 106 remedy or method to 'offset adverse effect'. Are easements as scary and limiting as they sound, or can they be an active and comforting part of your professional toolbox?
Keywords: Easements, Section 106 Remedy
Chris Nicholson - Advancing our Digital Cultural Heritage using FAIR Principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable Archaeological Data
Digital Antiquity - tDAR
For the past two decades, archaeological research has experienced a shift from strictly fieldwork-based collections analyses towards synthetic research using existing datasets. As such, both CRM and academic archaeologists must make a concerted effort to change the manner in which data are archived, preserved, and shared. Since the archaeological record provides a unique time-depth perspective, we are well suited to addressing questions about both past human behaviors and contribute to the discourse on current social problems (e.g., climate adaptation, migration). However, this type of research can only be done if we choose to do a better job of data consolidation and provide that data in more accessible platforms. In this talk, I advocate for the long-term preservation of archaeological digital data, improved web access, and provide synthetic research examples to demonstrate how archaeological data can be used in a more socially engaged manner in the incipient “Big-Data” era.
Keywords: Archiving, Access, Data
Digital Antiquity - tDAR
For the past two decades, archaeological research has experienced a shift from strictly fieldwork-based collections analyses towards synthetic research using existing datasets. As such, both CRM and academic archaeologists must make a concerted effort to change the manner in which data are archived, preserved, and shared. Since the archaeological record provides a unique time-depth perspective, we are well suited to addressing questions about both past human behaviors and contribute to the discourse on current social problems (e.g., climate adaptation, migration). However, this type of research can only be done if we choose to do a better job of data consolidation and provide that data in more accessible platforms. In this talk, I advocate for the long-term preservation of archaeological digital data, improved web access, and provide synthetic research examples to demonstrate how archaeological data can be used in a more socially engaged manner in the incipient “Big-Data” era.
Keywords: Archiving, Access, Data
Emma Paradiso* - Historic Dendroarchaeology on the Front Range: The Historic Cabins of the Manitou Experimental Forest, Woodland Park, Colorado (Poster)
Colorado College
Dendroarchaeology is most well-known for providing insight into the environmental and cultural context of pre-historic sites in the southwestern United States. This paper demonstrates the use of dendrochronology and traditional artifact analysis at historic cabin sites on the Rocky Mountain Frontier in Colorado. The research addresses the lost historical narrative of the Manitou Experimental Forest by providing insight into who lived there from 1880-1920, what they were doing there, and why they were there. In addition to describing a detailed cultural history of the Manitou Experimental Forest, the results of the research show how dendrochronology can be a productive tool for gaining insight into the behavioral and environmental context of historic cabin sites in this region. Specifically, this paper argues that the combination of dendrochronological methods with artifact analysis can help not only date a site, but it can help refine the conclusions and interpretations made about historic cabins. This paper creates new knowledge through documenting a past cultural landscape previously forgotten and by exemplifying a collaborative approach to site interpretation through analysis of temporally diagnostic artifacts and tree-ring research.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Scott Ingram, Colorado College
Keywords: Dendrochronology, historic, cabins
Colorado College
Dendroarchaeology is most well-known for providing insight into the environmental and cultural context of pre-historic sites in the southwestern United States. This paper demonstrates the use of dendrochronology and traditional artifact analysis at historic cabin sites on the Rocky Mountain Frontier in Colorado. The research addresses the lost historical narrative of the Manitou Experimental Forest by providing insight into who lived there from 1880-1920, what they were doing there, and why they were there. In addition to describing a detailed cultural history of the Manitou Experimental Forest, the results of the research show how dendrochronology can be a productive tool for gaining insight into the behavioral and environmental context of historic cabin sites in this region. Specifically, this paper argues that the combination of dendrochronological methods with artifact analysis can help not only date a site, but it can help refine the conclusions and interpretations made about historic cabins. This paper creates new knowledge through documenting a past cultural landscape previously forgotten and by exemplifying a collaborative approach to site interpretation through analysis of temporally diagnostic artifacts and tree-ring research.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Dr. Scott Ingram, Colorado College
Keywords: Dendrochronology, historic, cabins
Shelby Patrick* - An Investigation of the Stone Huts Near Crestone, CO
Colorado College
Outside of Crestone, Colorado, a group of stone huts have been the subject of local lore for many years. Despite the speculation surrounding the structures, there has been no conclusive determination of their function or origin. Theories as to the huts’ purpose have ranged from ovens to storage units to ceremonial structures. Thoughts on who constructed the stone huts are just as varied. While some local community members believe the huts to be of Native American origin, others have suggested that they are associated with the mining or railroad industry boom that occurred in the San Luis Valley. Examination of historical documents, associated artifacts, analysis of the huts’ architecture, and interviews with local community members aided in evaluating the evidence in support of these various interpretations. Ultimately, the interpretation with the most supporting evidence is that the Crestone huts were associated with the railroad.
Keywords: historical archaeology, stone constructions
Colorado College
Outside of Crestone, Colorado, a group of stone huts have been the subject of local lore for many years. Despite the speculation surrounding the structures, there has been no conclusive determination of their function or origin. Theories as to the huts’ purpose have ranged from ovens to storage units to ceremonial structures. Thoughts on who constructed the stone huts are just as varied. While some local community members believe the huts to be of Native American origin, others have suggested that they are associated with the mining or railroad industry boom that occurred in the San Luis Valley. Examination of historical documents, associated artifacts, analysis of the huts’ architecture, and interviews with local community members aided in evaluating the evidence in support of these various interpretations. Ultimately, the interpretation with the most supporting evidence is that the Crestone huts were associated with the railroad.
Keywords: historical archaeology, stone constructions
Kristina Pelissero - Redrawing the Past: The Suitability of Using Digital Illustration Methods in Recording and Presenting Rock Art (Poster)
Logan Simpson Design
Non-invasive methods in archaeology have come into vogue recently, especially for documenting sensitive rock art. One method utilizes digital enhancement applications that manipulate how RGB light is displayed, increasing the visibility of pigments in pictographs and the amount of light reflected from pecked petroglyph fissures. Applying this method, archaeologists can create to-scale figures using vector-based illustration applications. Vector illustration software is becoming increasingly available, affordable, and more accessible than expensive, sometimes physically impractical photogrammetric methods. This study explores the suitability of using professional grade (Adobe Illustrator) and open source (DStretch, Inkscape) software to create report-quality rock art figures. Using these methods produces a shareable and long lasting dataset as destructive impacts on rock art grow in number and persist over time.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Michael Ligman
Keywords: digital archaeology, rock art, illustration
Logan Simpson Design
Non-invasive methods in archaeology have come into vogue recently, especially for documenting sensitive rock art. One method utilizes digital enhancement applications that manipulate how RGB light is displayed, increasing the visibility of pigments in pictographs and the amount of light reflected from pecked petroglyph fissures. Applying this method, archaeologists can create to-scale figures using vector-based illustration applications. Vector illustration software is becoming increasingly available, affordable, and more accessible than expensive, sometimes physically impractical photogrammetric methods. This study explores the suitability of using professional grade (Adobe Illustrator) and open source (DStretch, Inkscape) software to create report-quality rock art figures. Using these methods produces a shareable and long lasting dataset as destructive impacts on rock art grow in number and persist over time.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Michael Ligman
Keywords: digital archaeology, rock art, illustration
Georgianna Pongyesva - Hopi Spring Restoration, Policy, Perspectives, and Worldviews
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
A quick breakdown on the conflicting worldviews of the western world and Native peoples on land, spirituality and religion. Including a brief history of archaeology from an indigenous perspective; and why Native voices and partnerships are necessary in the Professional field of Archaeology.
Keywords: Hopi Perspectives, Collaborative Archaeology
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
A quick breakdown on the conflicting worldviews of the western world and Native peoples on land, spirituality and religion. Including a brief history of archaeology from an indigenous perspective; and why Native voices and partnerships are necessary in the Professional field of Archaeology.
Keywords: Hopi Perspectives, Collaborative Archaeology
Michael Prouty - The Palmer Family and Conspicuous Consumption at Glen Eyrie
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Alpine Archaeology recently excavated two middens in western Colorado Springs that are associated with the innovative and affluent General William Jackson Palmer and his family. Not only do the 60,000 artifacts recovered at site 5EP7352 exemplify the family’s wealth, but the material remains also shed light on the estate’s technology, self-sustainability, and employees. The vast quantity and variety of artifacts is representative of the family’s increased wealth between the late 1890s and the mid-1910s. During this period, the Palmer family reconstructed Glen Eyrie and furnished it with items from around the world, epitomizing the ideals of Late Victorian conspicuous consumption. This paper presents a brief summary of how the Palmer’s increased wealth is seen in the archaeological record.
Keywords: Wealth, Self-sustainability, Late Victorian
Alpine Archaeological Consultants
Alpine Archaeology recently excavated two middens in western Colorado Springs that are associated with the innovative and affluent General William Jackson Palmer and his family. Not only do the 60,000 artifacts recovered at site 5EP7352 exemplify the family’s wealth, but the material remains also shed light on the estate’s technology, self-sustainability, and employees. The vast quantity and variety of artifacts is representative of the family’s increased wealth between the late 1890s and the mid-1910s. During this period, the Palmer family reconstructed Glen Eyrie and furnished it with items from around the world, epitomizing the ideals of Late Victorian conspicuous consumption. This paper presents a brief summary of how the Palmer’s increased wealth is seen in the archaeological record.
Keywords: Wealth, Self-sustainability, Late Victorian
John Scott - Modern Conflict Archaeology and the 10th Mountain Division: Documenting WWII Battle-zones in the Northern Apennine Mountains of Italy (Poster)
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
The 1944-1945 10th Mountain Division battle landscape in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy is being mapped, inventoried, and interpreted by Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc., with the Museo Jola di Montese and the Museo dei Monti della Riva of Italy. The story of the 10th is a significant part of both American and world heritage. Camp Hale, their training site in Colorado, and their battlefields in the Emilia-Romagna Apennine Mountains of Italy are connected by landscape and WWII, which introduced specialized mountain warfare to the United States. Using the interdisciplinary methodology of modern conflict archaeology as well as digital strategies, Metcalf archaeologists led by principal investigator John Scott, PhD, are collecting the data necessary to preserve, manage, and present this landscape in a multi-year, multi-phased project. This poster presents recently documented selected portions of the 10th’s Italian battle-zone.
Keywords: modern conflict archaeology
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
The 1944-1945 10th Mountain Division battle landscape in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy is being mapped, inventoried, and interpreted by Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc., with the Museo Jola di Montese and the Museo dei Monti della Riva of Italy. The story of the 10th is a significant part of both American and world heritage. Camp Hale, their training site in Colorado, and their battlefields in the Emilia-Romagna Apennine Mountains of Italy are connected by landscape and WWII, which introduced specialized mountain warfare to the United States. Using the interdisciplinary methodology of modern conflict archaeology as well as digital strategies, Metcalf archaeologists led by principal investigator John Scott, PhD, are collecting the data necessary to preserve, manage, and present this landscape in a multi-year, multi-phased project. This poster presents recently documented selected portions of the 10th’s Italian battle-zone.
Keywords: modern conflict archaeology
Linda Scott Cummings - What happens when your depositional record appears to be scrambled: Interpreting the Deposition, Radiocarbon, and Pollen Signatures for Bijou Creek, Colorado
PaleoResearch Institute
The West Bijou Creek site, 5AH04, is situated in eastern Colorado on the first terrace above West Bijou Creek, an entrenched meandering stream that flows from the Palmer Divide to join the South Platte River. The stratigraphic record, exposed in a cut bank, appeared to be intact, so a 5-meter core was extracted and examined to better understand the local and regional paleoenvironment. Radiocarbon dates from 18,000 to 945 RCYBP, collected from obvious strata, were out of order, suggesting a punctuated depositional and erosional history. A detailed pollen record, supported by six radiocarbon dates and XRF analysis at 3mm intervals, at first presented a puzzling record. Upon re-examination, it appeared that alluvial sediments represented cut and fill sequences of meanders rather than continuous deposition. Therefore, re-ordering the pollen and XRF signatures by radiocarbon ages afforded an opportunity to examine this record in age order, revealing periods of elevated pine, goosefoot family, and sagebrush pollen. XRF elements critical in understanding the depositional sequence include sulfur and strontium and the titanium/iron and strontium/calcium ratios. Identifying sediment packages through radiocarbon dating allows paleoenvironmental interpretations not possible without this level of analysis. We discuss challenges and successes of this evaluative process.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: R. A. Varney, Ted Hoefer, Gordon C. Tucker Jr., Ph.D.
Keywords: Paleoenvironment, Early Ceramic
PaleoResearch Institute
The West Bijou Creek site, 5AH04, is situated in eastern Colorado on the first terrace above West Bijou Creek, an entrenched meandering stream that flows from the Palmer Divide to join the South Platte River. The stratigraphic record, exposed in a cut bank, appeared to be intact, so a 5-meter core was extracted and examined to better understand the local and regional paleoenvironment. Radiocarbon dates from 18,000 to 945 RCYBP, collected from obvious strata, were out of order, suggesting a punctuated depositional and erosional history. A detailed pollen record, supported by six radiocarbon dates and XRF analysis at 3mm intervals, at first presented a puzzling record. Upon re-examination, it appeared that alluvial sediments represented cut and fill sequences of meanders rather than continuous deposition. Therefore, re-ordering the pollen and XRF signatures by radiocarbon ages afforded an opportunity to examine this record in age order, revealing periods of elevated pine, goosefoot family, and sagebrush pollen. XRF elements critical in understanding the depositional sequence include sulfur and strontium and the titanium/iron and strontium/calcium ratios. Identifying sediment packages through radiocarbon dating allows paleoenvironmental interpretations not possible without this level of analysis. We discuss challenges and successes of this evaluative process.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: R. A. Varney, Ted Hoefer, Gordon C. Tucker Jr., Ph.D.
Keywords: Paleoenvironment, Early Ceramic
Rebecca Simon and Michael Metcalf - Another Non-Profit, Another Way to Connect: Institute of Heritage Education
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
The Institute for Heritage Education (IHE) is a new, 501(c)3 heritage-focused non-profit dedicated to furthering the inclusion of all types of heritage studies in educational curricula. IHE’s mission is to provide and support education that helps people understand and appreciate their own cultural heritage and the cultural heritage of others. Alongside former Project Archaeology lead, Jeanne Moe, volunteers provided the groundwork to get the organization started and will be awarding small educational grants in 2020. The IHE board includes representatives from private and public sectors of Colorado’s cultural resource management because IHE’s goals align with critical needs for the industry to demonstrate the relevancy of CRM to native communities and the general public. Embedding cultural heritage into education ensures continued interest and support for heritage programs. See how you can support this new organization that is taking the next step in public outreach and heritage education.
Keywords: cultural heritage, education
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
The Institute for Heritage Education (IHE) is a new, 501(c)3 heritage-focused non-profit dedicated to furthering the inclusion of all types of heritage studies in educational curricula. IHE’s mission is to provide and support education that helps people understand and appreciate their own cultural heritage and the cultural heritage of others. Alongside former Project Archaeology lead, Jeanne Moe, volunteers provided the groundwork to get the organization started and will be awarding small educational grants in 2020. The IHE board includes representatives from private and public sectors of Colorado’s cultural resource management because IHE’s goals align with critical needs for the industry to demonstrate the relevancy of CRM to native communities and the general public. Embedding cultural heritage into education ensures continued interest and support for heritage programs. See how you can support this new organization that is taking the next step in public outreach and heritage education.
Keywords: cultural heritage, education
Rebecca Simon - Teaching What We Preach: Project Archaeology Lesson Demonstration
Colorado Project Archaeology Program
Preserving the past only matters if there are future generations that appreciate, respect, and care what that past represents. Education at all levels – elementary to “lifelong learner” – develops the necessary understandings for preservation efforts to work. Project Archaeology is a partnership between Montana State University and the Bureau of Land Management that creates curriculum and networking opportunities to teach important concepts of preservation and stewardship of archaeological sites. Colorado is home to over 100,000 documented archaeological sites. However, teaching archaeology is easier said than done. In Colorado, a network of educators, archaeologists, and other professionals are using Project Archaeology to further their preservation and educational reach. This paper will stray from the traditional and demonstrate how to teach lessons from Project Archaeology’s curriculum and give suggestions on how to best update public outreach and archaeology education in private and public sectors.
Keywords: education, site stewardship
Colorado Project Archaeology Program
Preserving the past only matters if there are future generations that appreciate, respect, and care what that past represents. Education at all levels – elementary to “lifelong learner” – develops the necessary understandings for preservation efforts to work. Project Archaeology is a partnership between Montana State University and the Bureau of Land Management that creates curriculum and networking opportunities to teach important concepts of preservation and stewardship of archaeological sites. Colorado is home to over 100,000 documented archaeological sites. However, teaching archaeology is easier said than done. In Colorado, a network of educators, archaeologists, and other professionals are using Project Archaeology to further their preservation and educational reach. This paper will stray from the traditional and demonstrate how to teach lessons from Project Archaeology’s curriculum and give suggestions on how to best update public outreach and archaeology education in private and public sectors.
Keywords: education, site stewardship
Christy Smith - Moving Forward on the AJB Gateway West Project, Sweetwater and Carbon Counties, Wyoming
HDR
In 2019, HDR provided environmental and cultural resource services to Rocky Mountain Power for construction monitoring for the Gateway West Transmission Line Project, located in Sweetwater and Carbon Counties, Wyoming. HDR also facilitated the participation of Traditional Cultural Specialists from eight consulting Tribes on a rotating basis to monitor construction during ground-disturbing activities. The Project is approximately 145 miles long across private land and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the State of Wyoming. Counter to past agreements with Tribal Nations for monitoring almost exclusively for cultural resources, Traditional Cultural Specialists were instead offered the opportunity to monitor a wide variety of resources; archaeological sites, plants, animals, and other natural phenomena part of cultural landscapes within the Project area. This presentation explores the collaboration progress and provides examples of the contributions to the Project by Traditional Cultural Specialists.
Keywords: Traditional Cultural Specialists
HDR
In 2019, HDR provided environmental and cultural resource services to Rocky Mountain Power for construction monitoring for the Gateway West Transmission Line Project, located in Sweetwater and Carbon Counties, Wyoming. HDR also facilitated the participation of Traditional Cultural Specialists from eight consulting Tribes on a rotating basis to monitor construction during ground-disturbing activities. The Project is approximately 145 miles long across private land and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the State of Wyoming. Counter to past agreements with Tribal Nations for monitoring almost exclusively for cultural resources, Traditional Cultural Specialists were instead offered the opportunity to monitor a wide variety of resources; archaeological sites, plants, animals, and other natural phenomena part of cultural landscapes within the Project area. This presentation explores the collaboration progress and provides examples of the contributions to the Project by Traditional Cultural Specialists.
Keywords: Traditional Cultural Specialists
Mark Stiger - Mountain Communities during the Younger Dryas 10,200-10,900 RYBP
Western Colorado University
Excavations near Gunnison, Colorado, have produced a variety of prehistoric buildings constructed during the Younger Dryas including what is interpreted as long-term family residences occupied during winter, short-term residences occupied during warm seasons, and community structures used by a subset of the community. The artifact assemblages associated with each kind of structure also varies suggesting systematic differences in the organization of culture.
Keywords: Paleoindian Structures, Mountains
Western Colorado University
Excavations near Gunnison, Colorado, have produced a variety of prehistoric buildings constructed during the Younger Dryas including what is interpreted as long-term family residences occupied during winter, short-term residences occupied during warm seasons, and community structures used by a subset of the community. The artifact assemblages associated with each kind of structure also varies suggesting systematic differences in the organization of culture.
Keywords: Paleoindian Structures, Mountains
Marie Taylor - From the Paleo to the Late Prehistoric: The Archaeology of a Playa Lake in Chase County, Nebraska (Poster)
Colorado State University, Center for Mountains and Plains Archaeology
Playa lakes in the Central Plains are well known as oases of biodiversity for animals, plants and humans alike. Although these areas have high potential for archaeological investigations, playas are often located on privately held properties that have restricted professional access and interest. This poster highlights the research of ongoing collaborative work with an avocational archaeologist who has identified 20 archaeological playa sites in the Central Plains of eastern Colorado and western Nebraska. One particular site, 15.24, located along the Colorado border in Chase County, Nebraska, has yielded over 500 chipped stone tools and thousands of pieces of debitage. This rich multi-component site demonstrates the potential for such collaborative projects. In regions like the Central Plains where large swaths of land are privately held, interaction between professional and avocational archaeologists is vital for gaining a more representative understanding of the archaeological record.
Keywords: playas, collectors, central plains
Colorado State University, Center for Mountains and Plains Archaeology
Playa lakes in the Central Plains are well known as oases of biodiversity for animals, plants and humans alike. Although these areas have high potential for archaeological investigations, playas are often located on privately held properties that have restricted professional access and interest. This poster highlights the research of ongoing collaborative work with an avocational archaeologist who has identified 20 archaeological playa sites in the Central Plains of eastern Colorado and western Nebraska. One particular site, 15.24, located along the Colorado border in Chase County, Nebraska, has yielded over 500 chipped stone tools and thousands of pieces of debitage. This rich multi-component site demonstrates the potential for such collaborative projects. In regions like the Central Plains where large swaths of land are privately held, interaction between professional and avocational archaeologists is vital for gaining a more representative understanding of the archaeological record.
Keywords: playas, collectors, central plains
Meg Van Ness - Correcting Your Thinking: The Mythological Science of Our Lives
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Myth: a traditional or legendary story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, and typically involving supernatural beings or events; a widely held but false belief or idea.
Science: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment; a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.
Keywords: Myths, Science
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Myth: a traditional or legendary story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, and typically involving supernatural beings or events; a widely held but false belief or idea.
Science: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment; a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.
Keywords: Myths, Science
Aaron Whittenburg - James Peak Wilderness Archaeological Assessment Survey: Results and Future Directions (Poster)
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
Gilpin Historical Society, in partnership with Metcalf Archaeological Consultants (Metcalf), received a History Colorado State Historical Fund grant for targeted archaeological survey and site recording in the James Peak Wilderness Area of Gilpin County to assess the area for future archaeological investigations. In August 2019, Metcalf archaeologists Aaron Whittenburg and Mike Metcalf led two volunteers for four days of survey, targeting high probability areas in the alpine region on the north side of James Peak on the divide between South Boulder Creek and Mammoth Gulch. Survey resulted in the identification of three prehistoric game drive systems, which include segments of low walls, hunting blinds, cairns, and a single piece of micro-debitage. The newly recorded game drives expand the known distribution and density of such sites along Front Range, and demonstrate that more intensive investigations along this divide would likely add to the growing corpus of knowledge about the age, function, and distribution of game drive systems.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Michael Metcalf
Keywords: alpine, game drive
Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
Gilpin Historical Society, in partnership with Metcalf Archaeological Consultants (Metcalf), received a History Colorado State Historical Fund grant for targeted archaeological survey and site recording in the James Peak Wilderness Area of Gilpin County to assess the area for future archaeological investigations. In August 2019, Metcalf archaeologists Aaron Whittenburg and Mike Metcalf led two volunteers for four days of survey, targeting high probability areas in the alpine region on the north side of James Peak on the divide between South Boulder Creek and Mammoth Gulch. Survey resulted in the identification of three prehistoric game drive systems, which include segments of low walls, hunting blinds, cairns, and a single piece of micro-debitage. The newly recorded game drives expand the known distribution and density of such sites along Front Range, and demonstrate that more intensive investigations along this divide would likely add to the growing corpus of knowledge about the age, function, and distribution of game drive systems.
Additional Authors & Affiliations: Michael Metcalf
Keywords: alpine, game drive
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