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Friday, Sept. 18, 1:30 PM. Meet at the Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores for an introductory film, a special guided tour of the curation area, and the rest of the afternoon viewing outstanding exhibits and a CD ROM about Lowry Ruins. This visit will provide an excellent introduction to archaeology in the Four Corners Region. A map showing you how to reach the Anasazi Center will be provided to those who let me know you are going. Anyone who arrives late still can enjoy the Center until 5:00 PM, when the rest of us also will be leaving.

Saturday, Sept. 19, 9:00 AM. Meet in Cortez (map for gathering place will be provided later) for an all-day field trip. Bring your lunch , the usual outdoor togs, sunscreen and your vehicle, which does not have to be 4WD. Our Network members Don and Jeanne Tucker, who live in Cortez and have led many field trips throughout the Four Corners Region, will take us through McElmo Canyon with stops to view the abundant rock art there. We will continue on to Hovenweep National Monument and to Lowry Ruins before returning to Cortez for supper and the night.

Sunday, Sept. 20. This day will allow for individual planning. Anyone who missed the Anasazi Heritage Center on Friday can visit it on Sunday, 9 AM - 5 PM, without the guided tour. Others may wish to visit Mesa Verde, in a group or separately, before starting home. On US 160 toward home, a short stop at the USFS Target Tree campground east of Mancos is interesting.

Make your own motel reservations in Cortez. Here are names, phone numbers, and this summer's published price ranges: Anasazi Motor Inn (800-972-6232), $50-69; Aneth LodgeBudget Six (970-565-3453), $29-65; Best Western Sands (970-565-3761), $45-85; Best Western Turquoise Inn (800-547-3376), $59-149; Budget Host Inn, formerly Bel Rau (970-565-3738), $36-58 ; Comfort Inn (800-221-2222), $49-99; Day's Inn (800-628-2183), $4989; Econo Lodge, formerly Ramada (800-272-6232), $34-90; El Capri (970-565-3764), $37-60 ; Holiday Inn Express (8000-626-5652), $48-105; Super 8 (800-800-8000), $63-73; Sand Canyon Inn (800-257-3699), $42+. Also, there are various campgrounds nearby.

As soon as possible, please let me know if you plan to attend and how many will be in your party, as we may want to ask for two groups for the guided tour of the curation area at the Anasazi Heritage Center. My telephone number is 719-657-2923, or drop me a note at 550 Cherry St., Apt. 3, Del Norte, 81132.

Hoping you will join us,

Virginia Simmons

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COLORADO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING AT PUEBLO

SPECIAL INVITATION TO ATTEND CAS'S ANNUAL MEETING

Although our Network is not a chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society at this time, our members have received a special invitation to attend CAS's annual meeting at the new convention center in Pueblo. The program will focus on archaeology of southern and eastern Colorado. Registration is $20. Events will include an open forum on Friday evening, formal papers on Saturday, a banquet on Saturday night ($17), and several field trips on Sunday. Dennis Stanford and Pegi Jodry will attend, and Pegi will be giving the keynote address at the banquet. We hear that Steve Cassells also will be at Pueblo. {The new Second Edition of his book Archaeology of Colorado is available now in Alamosa at the Narrow Gauge Newsstand.) For more information about the CAS meeting, phone Charles Booms at 719-545-5900 or Gary Moreschini at 719-542-5080 or 719-542-3856, all in Pueblo.

PAAC CLASS ON HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY AT ALAMOSA

November 6-8 PAAC CLASS ON HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY AT ALAMOSA. Call Loretta Mitson at 719- 843-5328 or 719-589-6740 to sign up.

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LAND ACQUISITION IN CARNERO CANYON WILL PROTECT ROCK ART

The Nature Conservancy has acquired land and a conservation easement at the L-Cross Ranch in Carnero Canyon. Although The Nature Conservancy's mission is the protection of biodiversity, not archaeological resources, the easement will prevent future development that might have become detrimental to the rock art there. These pictographs have received National Register designation, although one of Colorado's preservation officers has pointed out that the very brief form done in 1974 would not meet today's standards as a nomination. Proper recording still is needed for this rock art. A number of circular stone features exist nearby, as well.

Here is a bit of local color, based on a note I found in the files of the Rio Grande County Museum: After Anglo settlement began in this area, Ute Indians still came to Carnero Canyon each summer, traveling by way of Crystal Hill. Their favorite campsite was a "pretty little park on the Carnero, by the Picture Rocks." The Utes "would leave a fresh deer as a thank-you to Herbert Dunn, an Englishman there who entertained them."

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HEY, GUYS! LET'S NOT OVERLOOK THE WOMEN

An article in the Summer 1998 issue of CAS's Southwestern Lore discusses the problems in distinguishing between Ute and Navajo archaeological sites on the basis of ceramics. True enough, but the author incorrectly and repeatedly speaks of the potters as men. My readings in literature by anthropologists cause me to believe that Ute women, not men, were most likely the potters, though it should be noted that nomadic Utes of neither gender appear to have produced much pottery. Instead, Ute women were busy turning out large quantities of basketry, even for cooking and carrying water. Baskets were less breakable than pots when transported, but because the fibers are perishable, little of this distinctive ware survived except from comparatively modem times. Ute women still were making baskets in the 1800s and even in the early 1900s. However, metal utensils obtained in trade and in raids and from government distributions had by then gained favor, understandably. Other endless domestic chores of Ute women included gathering foodstuffs, preserving and cooking them, collecting firewood and poles for shelters, scraping and tanning hides, making garments and shelters, setting them up and taking them down, bearing children, on and on, but they still found time for games, gambling, and dancing, too. What did Ute men do? Well, the macho stuff like making tools and weapons, warfare, raiding, fishing, hunting, foot races and horse racing, trading, gambling, beating ceremonial drums and singing, dancing, and making love. But making pottery? I don't think so. --Virginia Simmons

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ASSORTED ACTIVITIES

Our mid-summer field trips that are open to the public are very popular. Both last year's at Bonanza and this year's at the Big Bird cave drew more than fifty people. Our thanks are extended to Ken Frye for leading the Big Bird trip.

Vince Spero was busy this summer with a PIT team at Bonanza. We look forward to hearing about this project when he resumes as newsletter editor with the October issue.

The Bureau of Land Management's inventory of land parcels, which it hopes to trade for private land in Carnero Canyon, has not been completed. The biggest problem seems to be that the seasonal archaeologist whom the BLM promised, has never arrived as of mid-August. Our Network may need to schedule another work day in October to help Ken Frye with this project.

Our current membership now is 91 individuals. The mailing list has 75 addresses. Not bad.

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