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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE BLACK MOUNTAIN FOLSOM SITE
IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR CREEDE, COLORADO

There will be plenty of opportunities for Archaeological Network members to help Smithsonian Institution archaeologists Pegi Jodry, Dennis Stanford and crew with the excavation and interdisciplinary investigation at the Black Mountain Folsom site. The site is located about 25 miles to the west of Creede at an elevation of 10,160'. In 1993, when the site was last investigated, a total of 32 square meters were excavated in 2 meter square units. The excavation was done by a Smithsonian crew assisted by two groups of 10 Earthwatch Volunteers, who graciously not only worked at the site but helped fund the project by providing a share of project costs. Artifacts found in 1993 included portions of five Folsom preforms (unfinished Folsom points), a double graver, four endscrapers, a knife, a biface in the early stage of manufacture, a shaft working tool, four channel flakes, resulting from formation of the distinctive Folsom flute, several utilized flakes, and over 1,000 flakes resulting from tool maintenance and the later stages of biface production. We have high expectations for this summers investigation.
This year's excavation will include six volunteers from the Forest Service Passports in Time (PIT) program. In addition individual volunteers will be welcome to help during the 40 day field investigation. Planned are the expansion of existing 2 meter square units and excavation of a series of 1 meter square units in areas of the site not yet explored to help determine site extent. In addition, there will be other investigations relating to geomorphology and glacial history.
Volunteers who would like to help with excavating the 1 or 2 meter square units will be instructed on techniques of excavation and then will work directly with a project crew member. Volunteers who help with excavation of units will take part in the slow process of digging with a trowel with the goal of finding artifacts in-place. In addition to artifacts other cultural material such charcoal deposits may be found and soil and other samples will periodically be taken. Screening of all soil removed from the unit is done to ensure that small objects not found in place are identified as to the specific excavation level they came from. Measurements will be taken with a transit in order document each artifacts exact location. The transit will also be utilized to keep the floor of the unit level and to control the 10 centimeter deep levels. Scaled drawings of distinct soil layers, called profiles, will also done. People who want to excavate will have to commit to a significant period of time, at least 5 days, in order to be effective and become proficient with techniques.
There will be several other opportunities to help at the site. On weekends there will be an "Information & Education Table" set up to greet visitors to the site. Volunteers to operate the table, where background material on the Folsom culture in general and the Black Mountain site in particular will be displayed, are needed. People volunteering in this capacity will be briefed on aspects of Folsom culture in order to be able to answer visitors' general questions. We are presently working with the town of Creede to provide regular group tours from a meeting place in Creede. Other opportunities exist for artists to draw artifacts site scenes, and camp life scenes. People with photography skills could help with documenting artifacts, features, soil profiles, and excavation techniques. Another volunteer opportunity involves the surface inventory of the immediate area of the site and inventory at Mishak Lakes, near Saguache, as a special field exercise.
There will be other non-archaeological related volunteer opportunities such as helping with the operation of camp, going to town for needed supplies, retrieving mail in Creede, helping the cook in special situations, hauling trash, gathering firewood, and the like.
The field camp for the Black Mountain excavation will be at the Bristol View Guard Station on the Rio Grande National Forest. To get to the field camp from Creede drive 20 miles west on Colorado Highway 149 to the Rio Grande Reservoir Road (Forest Service Road 520). Turn left and proceed due west 3 miles to the Bristol View Guard Station, located Immediately after crossing the bridge over Crooked Creek. The phone number at the Guard Station is 719-658-2468 (after August 1). The Field Camp mailing address is 1 C/O Divide Ranger District, Creede Office, P.O. Box 270, Creede CO 81130.

The camp will have a few spaces for vehicle campers, but will not accommodate trailers. Tent camping will be the predominate lodging mode. There are a few other Forest service campgrounds nearby which can be used on a fee basis and there are numerous other sites suitable for dispersed vehicle camping nearby. A cook will prepare all meals including lunches and there will be an "Every Saturday Night Barbecue," every Saturday night of course ! A trailer will serve as the camp cook facility. Hopefully we will have another trailer for use as a place to gel together in the evening and there will be also be a tepee. There will be the ever popular "Porta-Potties" and showers will be available at Freeman's Store (where there are pay showers), in the trailer showers (limited), and at the Forest Service Administrative Site in Creede.

The excavation begins on August 1 and will conclude on September 21. The crew will work 10 days on, days off and the excavation will run on all weekends in order to accommodate visitors and volunteers. The schedule is as follows: Session # 1; August 1 to 10, Session # 2; August 15 to 24, Session # 3; August 29 to September 7, and Session # 4; September 12 to 21.

With the above information in mind Archaeological Network members should plan to spend as much time as they can helping with the project. The following information sheet lists the volunteer activities available and indicates the schedule for excavation work periods. Please fill out the form it you are interested.

*Note: Please see the Black Mountain Folsom Site Page for data and information gathered from the dig.

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BLACK MOUNTAIN FOLSOM SITE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

PLEASE INDICATE BELOW WHICH SESSIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTAKE IN. AGAIN, IF EXCAVATING WE WOULD LIKE AT LEAST A 5 DAY CONTIGUOUS TIME PERIOD COMMITMENT OR A SERIES OF 3 DAY WEEKENDS. IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL SKILLS SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHY OR ARTISTIC INCLINATIONS PLEASE NOTE THEM. IF YOU WOULD JUST LIKE TO OBSERVE AND HELP MAKE CAMP LIFE GO SMOOTHER BY HELPING WITH NON-ARCHAEOLOGICAL TASKS PLEASE INDICATE THAT.

SESSION #1: AUGUST 1 TO 10       __Excavation __Special Skills __ Non-Archaeological Help
                                                             __Information/ Education __ Surface Inventory

SESSION #2: AUGUST 15 TO 24    ___Excavation __Special Skills __ Non-Archaeological Help
                                                             __Information/ Education __ Surface Inventory

SESSION #3: AUG. 29 TO SEPT. 7   __Excavation __Special Skills __Non-Archaeological Help
                                                              __Information/ Education __Surface Inventory

SESSION #4: SEPT. 12 TO 21       ___Excavation __Special Skills __Non-Archaeological Help
                                                            ___Information/ Education __Surface Inventory

NAME: _____________________________

ADDRESS:__________________________

PHONE:DAY________________________ NIGHT _____________________

PLEASE WRITE A SHORT NARRATIVE BELOW INCLUDING A SUMMARY OF YOUR SKILLS AND WHAT EXACTLY YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO TO HELP (INCLUDING EXACT DATES AND AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN VOLUNTEER). PLEASE SEND THIS FORM TO: VINCE SPERO, 28 WENDAR DRIVE, SOUTH FORK CO 81154 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT LATER THAN JULY 15. FOR MORE INFO CALL VINCE AT 719-852-6242 (WK) OR 719-873-5916 (HOME).

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UPCOMING CHIMNEY ROCK TOUR

There will be a tour of the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area, near Pagosa Springs, on June 14. The trip will be led by Forest Service archaeologist Bruce Ellis of the Pagosa Ranger District. We will meet at the gate to Chimney Rock at 10:00 AM. To reach the meeting place continue west through Pagosa Springs on Highway 160, about 15 miles, to Colorado Highway 151. Turn left on Colorado 151 and go south 3 miles to the gate to Chimney Rock, which is on your right. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, and walking shoes for an uphill (and downhill !) hike. Entrance fee is $4.
As an outlier of the Chacoan culture, Chimney Rock is the most isolated and remote of the Anasazi communities connected to Chaco Canyon. Its core-and-veneer masonry reflects the same architecture found at Chaco Canyon.
The high mesa community contains sixteen excavated sites, among them the Chacoan structures of the Great House, Guardhouse, and Great Kiva. Recent studies by J. McKim Malville of the University of Colorado suggest that the Chimney Rock Pueblo was built solely for reasons of religion and astronomy. Join us on the visit to this fascinating site.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY MUSEUM TALK
ATTENDED BY SEVENTY

About seventy people jammed into the Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte to hear the presentation by Vince Spero, San Juan/Rio Grande National Forest Archaeologist, titled Paleoindian and Archaic Occupation of the San Luis Valley Area. SLV Folsom sites were detailed, Early Archaic occupation and work done by 1940's archaeologist E.B. Renaud was discussed, and climate change information from Clovis to the Late Archaic times was presented. Thanks to all for supporting the museum's lecture series.

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ADAMS STATE COLLEGE PLANETARIUM SHOW

The "Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico" was enjoyed by three full houses at the Adams State College Planetarium in early May. We sincerely thank Dr. Randy Emmons for the presentation.

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