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The San Luis ValleyARCHAEO-UPDATEThe Bulletin of the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2000 |
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Contents:
GARY MORESCHINI
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC AMERICA ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
PRINCIPLES OF EXCAVATION PAAC CLASS, OCTOBER 20 TO
22
NEW BOOK DOCUMENTING THE UTE INDIANS NOW AVAILABLE
ARCHAIC STAGE PREHISTORIC OCCUPATION OF THE SLV
AREA
HELP WITH THE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FOUND IN THE TEST
EXCAVATION OF SITE 5SH73
REPORT ON FIELD TRIP TO CREEDE AREA
On
a recent warm and sunny Saturday about fifteen SLV Archaeological Network
members ventured from Creede to the site of the Marshall Park stone structures.
The site is located on flatter areas of a talus slope immediately to the
east of the Rio Grande on the west-facing slope of Snowshoe Mountain.
Stacked rock foundations vary in size and shape, with some about 15 feet
in diameter and others only several feet in diameter. In some cases evident
pathways in the rock, about 2 feet high, lead from structure to structure.
Views from the structures lower on the slope are of the Rio Grande, while
the upper structures have good views of the Rio Grande valley to the north
and south. Although no associated artifacts were found during the outing
additional stone structures were, along with the remains of wood fragments
that may have been utilized in construction of the structures. The purpose
and age of the structures of stone are not known, and may never be known
as associated artifacts are lacking and only limited soil deposits, where
artifacts may be present, are found in the structures.
After lunch in the aspens we traveled to the townsite of Bachelor, located
to the northwest of Creede, just above Windy Point. Not much remains today,
but in 1891 and 1892 the town was a bustling community of people of all
nationalities. The town had no electricity and there was no stream flowing
through it, but it had a few springs for water and it persevered until
1908. A photo taken in 1946 shows just a few standing buildings and evident
foundations of more. Remains of a miners cabin in a grove of aspen and
a long-forgotten gravesite were inspected. A few artifacts, including
a very old key, were found along with bottle glass, cans, and plate fragments.
Following the Bachelor visit personnel of the Creede Underground Mining
Museum were gracious in letting the group in free-of-charge to take the
guided tour of mining methods and equipment from 1892 to the present.
It was intriguing, and a little depressing, seeing the conditions and
danger the miners endured throughout the years. Hard, dangerous work was
the theme of the presentation given by our guide, who was a former miner.
THE SAD LOSS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVOCATE, GARY MORESCHINI
Gary J. Moreschini, an advocate of Colorado archaeology, died in a traffic accident in Pueblo, his hometown, on June 19, 2000. Gary was active in both the Pueblo Chapter, serving as vice-president and the state level of the Colorado Archaeological society, where he served as president in 1998. Gary put a lot of time and effort into Colorado archaeology and performed valuable research relating to rock art and other subjects. In 1997 Gary, his wife Sylvia, son Craig, and daughter Renae volunteered at the Black Mountain Folsom excavation, co-sponsored by the SLV Archaeological Network. From the way that he and his family worked together at the site it was evident that Gary loved Colorado archaeology. He will be missed very much by all who knew him.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC AMERICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Genealogical Society of Hispanic America will hold its annual conference in Pueblo from July 21 to 23. A number of genealogy related workshops, lectures and field trips will occur. A lecture and tour by Ron Kessler about Juan Baustista de Anza and the battle with the Comanche Chief Verde in the Greenhorn Valley, to the south of Pueblo, will be featured. Mr. Kessler's lecture will be presented at 2:00 PM, July 22 at the University of Southern Colorado's Hoag Hall. A tour to the area being investigated as the battle site will take place on Sunday morning, July 23. A total charge of $7.50 will be charged for the tour & lecture. Overnight accommodations are available at the University of Southern Colorado dormitory at a nominal cost. For more information please call (719) 561-0585 or send an E-mail to wmartinez@cs.com
PRINCIPLES OF EXCAVATION, NEXT PAAC CLASS OFFERING OCTOBER 20 TO 22
"Principles of Archaeological Excavation", the next class offering in the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC), had to be postponed last April due to a snowstorm. For those who missed the opportunity, here is your chance to sign up for the rescheduled class to be held October 20, 21, and 22 in Alamosa. The class will cover the history of excavation, developments in technology, field procedures, planning and research designs, recording and documentation, lab duties, and report writing. This is a classroom experience and does not involve field training. PAAC classes are offered twice a year in the SLV, in cooperation with the Colorado Historical Society. Taught by Assistant State Archaeologist Kevin Black the classes cover a variety of archaeological topics for an incredibly reasonable $12 each. The classes are excellent. PAAC classes are available throughout the state to anyone over 15. The schedule through December 2000 is available by checking the web site:http://www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/paac/paacindex.htm For more information on PAAC or to reserve your place in the class call Loretta Mitson at 719- 8435328. or mitson53@yahoo.com
NEW BOOK DOCUMENTING THE UTE INDIANS NOW AVAILABLE
For the past several years Virginia McConnell Simmons has been researching and researching the origins and history of the Ute Indians in preparation for her new book "The Ute Indians of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico". The book has been published by the University Press of Colorado and is now available for purchase. Details of the Ute's origins, their first contact with the Spanish (where they first obtained horses), and descriptions of the Ute lifeways, through time, are the focus of the publication. If you would like to order what promises to be a very informative and carefully researched book please contact the publisher at 1-800-627-7377 or look for it in local bookstores soon.
ARCHAIC STAGE PREHISTORIC OCCUPATION OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AREA
During the Archaic Stage, from about 7,500 BP to 1,500 BP (years Before Present), nomadic groups of hunters and gatherers occupied the San Luis Valley and surrounding mountains. Numerous cultural sites here are thought to relate to the Archaic Stage. The extended family groups were probably seasonally based, arriving in the spring and leaving in the fall. Changes in tool technology and a shift from lanceolate projectile points, like those produced during Paleoindian times, to more varied forms including stemmed and corner notched points are noted. There is a demonstrated change to hunting more types of animals and collecting many plant forms, for food and medicine. A pronounced increase in the use of grinding stones (manos and metates) is also seen. Extinction of the larger animals hunted in Paleoindian times and a change in climate were most likely the reasons for this change in subsistence. The Archaic groups in the San Luis Valley area may be related to the Oshara Tradition of the greater Southwest. The five phases of this tradition include the Jay, Bajada, San Jose, Armijo, and the En Medio.
HELP NEEDED IN THE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FOUND IN THE TEST EXCAVATION
OF SITE 5SH73
Last June, members of the SLV Archaeological Network conducted test excavations at site 5SH73, a stone structure site located on Sheep Creek to the west of Saguache. Artifact and other remains must be analyzed and a report must be written by the end of spring 2001. To accomplish this goal we need volunteers for a group who would be responsible for the analysis and write-up of the report on the investigation. The schedule would probably be one evening every two weeks in Monte Vista, or possibly in Alamosa, depending on group preference. It is very important to follow up the projects we do with a report on the findings. If you are interested in learning how to prepare an archaeological report about a fascinating site please call Vince Spero at 719-852-6242 or 873-5916.
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