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The San Luis ValleyARCHAEO-UPDATEThe Bulletin of the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network Vol. 5, No. 5, October 2000 |
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Contents:
REPORT ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST EXCAVATION AT THE, TORREZ TRADING POST
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 13, 14, and 15 members of the San Luis Valley Archaeological Network test excavated the site of the Torrez Trading Post, a few miles south of the village of La Garita. The investigation began on Columbus Day by establishing two 1 meter x 1 meter excavation units and preparing a site map. Test units were established within the ruins of the evident adobe structure, one near what was thought to be the doorway and one in a depression in the northeast corner. Prior to excavation an astonishing array of artifacts were found on the surface surrounding the adobe ruins. Surface artifacts included a 1907 Indian head penny, a small cast metal toy gun, a variety of spent cartridges, metal wagon steps, tack, square headed and wire nails, a toy cast metal frying pan, and various prehistoric artifacts including Late Prehistoric type projectile points, biface fragments, grinding stones, and pottery shards. Test units, excavated in 10 cm levels. also yielded a variety of historic and prehistoric artifacts including: children's toys such as marbles (tan clay, glass, and brightly colored ceramic), a ceramic doll face, and a toy cup handle. Evidently butchered and sawn bones, a beaver tooth, plenty of nails, decorated glass, whole bottles, a Vaseline jar, and a medicine bottle were also unearthed.
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Prehistoric
cultural material found in the same levels indicates that either the adobe
used for manufacture of bricks had prehistoric artifacts in it or the
people at the site were collecting artifacts. To confuse matters even
more, two projectile points were found at exactly the same depth and in
close proximity to the children's toys. The test units, excavated to 60
cm in depth, revealed historic artifacts that generally date to the 1920s
or later. Artifact types found subsurface indicate that we are at a level
dating into the 1920s or 1930s when a family may have occupied the building.
The toys, comb fragments, a child's , shoe, Vaseline and Mentholatum bottles,
and bottles dating to the 1920s or 1930s indicate the later domestic occupation.
Excavation units show that two wooden floors were installed on a packed
dirt surface at different times of occupation of the building. Artifacts
were found above and below these floors. Surface artifacts do indicate
that earlier cultural deposits exist at the site and those earlier deposits
may be found at deeper levels of the site. Further excavation to lower
levels is needed in order to determine the total depth and content of
cultural deposits within the adobe structure.
Special thanks are due to landowners Mike and Karen Spearman for allowing
us the opportunity to excavate and for helping I us the entire three days.
Other volunteers from the SLV Archaeological Network included Ken Frye,
Loretta Mitson, Jan Bennett, Bill Bennett, Dolly McClellan, Marvin Goad,
and Ron Kessler. Others that assisted were Fred Oglesby, A.J. Taylor (from
the Rio Grande County Museum), Coco Pugh, and Gordon Deter. We are also
happy to report that newspaper articles written about the site were included
in the Center Post Dispatch, the Valley Courier and the Denver Post.
PRINCIPLES OF EXCAVATION PAAC CLASS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 8, 9, &
10
"Principles of Archaeological Excavation", the next class offering
in the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC), is
scheduled for December 8, 9, and 10, 2000. 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 always excellent and the
turnout has been impressive. PAAC classes are available throughout the
state to anyone over 15. The schedule through December 2000 is available
by checking the web site: coloradohistory-oahp.org. For more information
on PAAC or to reserve your place in the class call Loretta Mitson at 719-
843-5328 or send an e-mail message to lmmitson@bewellnet.com.
SLV ARCHAEOLOGICAL NETWORK PLANNING MEETING IN FEBRUARY
There will be a meeting in February to plan SLV Archaeological Network activities for the spring, summer and fall of 2001. This is an important meeting, as it will set the direction for field trips and archaeological investigations for the rest of next year. We need input from as many members as possible. Please think about what you would like to see happen next year and come to the meeting to voice your ideas. We are thinking of a Friday, early evening, meeting in Monte Vista or Alamosa. The meeting date will be announced in the next Archaeo-Update in December.
"HAVE
A HAPPY THANKSGIVING"
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