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The San Luis ValleyARCHAEO-UPDATEThe Bulletin of the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network Vol. 3, No. 3, July 1998 |
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Contents:
FORT GARLAND ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT 1998
CHAPEL RECEIVES HISTORIC RECOGNITION
REPORT ON VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY AT THE AREA OF LITTLE
WOLF CREEK ON MAY 30
UPCOMING FIELD TRIP TO THE "BIG BIRD" PETROGLYPH
ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEEK EVENT
REPORT
SOURCE OF QUARTZITE RAW MATERIAL FOUND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN
SAN LUIS VALLEY SCHOOLS DISCUSSED
SLV
Archaeological Network members Ken Frye, Vince Spero, Holly Felmlee, and
Virginia Simmons met with Bureau of Land Management Anasazi Heritage Center
archaeological education coordinator Meg Heath, Alamosa High School science
teacher Barbara Cruise, and Adams State College Professor Ed Crowther
to discuss archaeological educational opportunities in San Luis Valley
schools. Meg Heath informed us of an opportunity for teachers to attend
workshops aimed at providing information helpful in teaching archaeology
in the classroom. "Project Archaeology", a BLM program which
includes teacher workshops, focuses on basic archaeological principles.
Workshop instructors include professional archaeologists and trained teacher
facilitators. Educational materials, including a teachers activity guide
for 4th to 7th grades, are an integral part of the program. The next teachers
workshop is scheduled for October 9 and 10. For further information about
this and future workshops contact Cindy Ramsay, The Imagination Team,
Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 758, Dolores CO 81323, phone (970)
882-4811 or CRamsay@co.blm.gov
Another item discussed at the meeting included a proposed class in archaeology
at Alamosa High School. Although the course was not approved for the 1998-1999
school year plans are being made to establish an "Archaeology Club"
which would help fill the need in providing educational opportunities
in archaeology at the high school level. Alamosa High School science teachers
Barbara Cruise and Howard Mestas are considering sponsoring the club.
Conducting actual research utilizing artifacts and information collected
from the San Juan/Rio Grande National Forests was discussed as a possible
club activity. It was noted that there would be opportunities for the
SLV Archaeological Network and possibly Adams State College to help with
club activities.
Another meeting will be held after thinking about ways to enhance the
study of archaeology in San Luis Valley schools, Developments will be
reported in future Archaeo-Updates, If anyone has ideas, comments, or
if you would like to attend the next meeting please contact Vince Spero
at 873-5916 (home) or 852-6242 (work).
FORT GARLAND ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT 1998
The Colorado Historical Society is planning its 6th season of archaeological investigations at Fort Garland State Museum, a military post occupied by the US Army from 1858 to 1883. This years research efforts include continued ground survey and excavation of specific building locations. Volunteer assistance is welcome, with training in any necessary archaeological techniques provided by the project archaeologist and experienced crew. Tasks include ground survey, mapping, drawing, excavation, and cataloging artifacts, Anne Wainstein Bond, Project Archaeologist, is seeking volunteers from July 11 to 19. Volunteer spaces are limited and reservations are required to secure a place. For further information, and to schedule volunteer times, call: Anne Wainstein Bond, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Colorado Historical Society at (303) 866-4691.
CHAPEL RECEIVES HISTORIC RECOGNITION
A plaque for la Capilla de San Antonio de Padua chapel at La Sauses was dedicated on June 13. Present were members of the Archaeological Network committee who successfully worked on designation of this building on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties, Virginia Simmons gave a short talk and pointed out the need for archaeological work if structural changes are made in this building, as part of it overlies an old cemetery.
REPORT ON VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY AT THE AREA OF
LITTLE WOLF CREEK ON MAY 30
Ten
members volunteered to help Ken Frye inventory a parcel of BLM land near
Little Wolf Creek, about 10 miles west by southwest of Del Norte. The
pinyon & juniper land is a portion of a 1,500 acre parcel proposed
to be exchanged for a tract of land near Carnero Creek. During the inventory
a Late Archaic open camp site was found almost immediately after leaving
the vehicles. Two projectile points, 4 bifacial tools, 5 scrapers, a chopping
tool, and a metate fragment were located as were numerous flakes of stone.
Another site, found on a ridge side above Little Wolf Creek, consisted
of 3 Middle to Late Archaic projectile points, 4 bifaces, a drill fragment,
2 manos, 2 metates, and a small stone structure. Pin flags were used to
mark artifacts as they were found. Artifacts were revisited with the group
and attributes of each were discussed.
The day turned out to be a fun way to get out on the ground and learn
aspects of site recognition and to practice the conduction of archaeological
inventories. Thanks to Ken Frye for leading the trip and to all who helped
locate the sites.
UPCOMING FIELD TRIP TO THE "BIG BIRD"
PETROGLYPH ON DOG MOUNTAIN
Dog Mountain, a prominent feature of the San Luis Valley, is the site of a very unique petroglyph figure. The main figure at site 5RN330 is a large stylized bird figure, two meters by one-half meter in size, found on the ceiling and the wall of a rock shelter. The figure is formed of pecked lines, pecked spots, and scratched lines. The surface was smoke blackened prior to panel formation. A test excavation in 1985 yielded artifacts including a Late Prehistoric projectile point, grinding stones, red ochre (a pigment), a scraper, a bone bead, deer teeth, and flakes of chert and chalcedony. Outside the shelter a Late Archaic (San Jose) point, probably dating from 5,000 to 1,500 years before present, was found. The figures at 5RN330 are thought to be of Late Archaic affiliation being of the Great Basin Curvilinear style.
 The "Big Bird" petroglyph. |
 Illustrated Projectile Points from 5RN330 |
We will visit the site on Saturday, July 25. The meeting place will be at the Limekiln Road, located about 6 miles to the west of Monte Vista, at the "Old Spanish Trail" sign on the south side of Highway 150. A large alignment of rock from the stone quarry now occupies the turnoff area (it will be an interpretive marker for the Old Spanish Trail). We will meet at Noon for the 5 mile dirt road drive followed by a hike of about 1 1/4 miles on a dirt road followed by a rocky trail, The final climb to the rock shelter is somewhat steep, but short. Bring the usual gear, including hiking boots and water, to view this intriguing site
ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEEK EVENT REPORT
The
Archaeology and Historic Preservation Week event "Archaeological
Investigations at the Los Pinos Agency Lecture and Exhibit" sponsored
by the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network was a great success with
about 60 people crowding into the Rio Grande County Museum to hear Jack
E. Pfertsh present the program.
Jack did a great job summarizing the history of the Los Pinos Agency
and presenting information about the archaeological Investigations accomplished
under a Colorado Historic Fund Grant in 1996. This presentation, along
with an exhibit of artifacts found during the investigation, provided
an exciting evening. The presentation highlighted the importance of
preservation of this site type which is very important to the Ute residents
of Colorado.
We wish to thank the Colorado Interagency Archaeological Education and
Anti-Vandalism Task Force for providing the funds to allow the event
to occur. This is the San Luis Valley Archaeological Networks first
grant and we were very proud to receive it. We will plan on bigger and
better things for next years Archaeology and Historic Preservation Week
event.
SOURCE OF QUARTZITE RAW MATERIAL FOUND
AT ALKALI SPRING TO THE WEST OF SAGUACHE
Quartzite artifacts have long been found in the Saguache area and now the source of raw material may be identified, The quartzite source is immediately northwest of Alkali Spring, which forms an intermittent drainage flowing into Saguache Creek. The quartzite occurs in a 30 to 50 foot thick exposure of Dakota Sandstone consisting of fine-to-medium grade, ferruginous othroquartzite, The Dakota Sandstone formation, about three-quarters by one-half mile in size, outcrops on a number of ridge sides above area intermittent drainages. Evidence of quarrying activity was seen in a limited search, The material noticed is fine-to-medium grained quartzite including light gray, pinkish gray, weak red, pale red, brown, and dark gray varieties, The colors of material seen in a preliminary investigation is consistent with quartzite artifacts found in the general area of Saguache Creek. Ken Frye was instrumental in determining the location of the source of material.
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