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TWELVE MEMBERS ATTEND FEBRUARY 9 PLANNING MEETING

Twelve SLV Archaeological Network Members attended the February 9 Annual Planning Meeting in Monte Vista where upcoming activities were discussed and scheduled. As a result of the meeting a variety of activities were scheduled throughout the spring, summer and fall of 2001. Thanks go to Davis Coats, Lee Coats, Aaron Cullianlt, Marvin Goad, Ken Frye, Ron Kessler, D. McClellen, Loretta Mitson, Fred Oglesby, Marian Seegrist, Vince Spero, and A. J. Taylor for participating in the meeting.

SAN LUIS VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL NETWORK 2001 ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 6 To 8: PAAC Class: Prehistoric Ceramic Description & Analysis. This is the last call to sign up for the next class in the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC) program, entitled "Prehistoric Ceramic Description & Analysis". The class, offered in Alamosa from April 6 to 8, will cover technology, methods of production, physical and stylistic analysis, and characteristics of Colorado prehistoric and historic ceramics. Cost is $12. For information or to sign up for the class please contact Loretta Mitson as soon as possible at 719-843-5328 or by e-mail at: lmmitson@bewellnet.com. For more information about PAAC offerings in other areas of Colorado visit the website www.coloradohistorv-oaha.org/paac/paacindex.htm.

Saturday, April 21: Huerfano County Historical Society Petroglyph Field Trip. The field trip to Walsenburg area petroglyph sites will begin at the Safeway in Walsenburg (on the north side of US 160 as you enter Walsenburg from La Veta Pass)) parking lot at 9:30 AM. The petroglyphs are located about 35 miles east of Walsenburg partly on paved road, partly on gravel road, and partly on dirt track. Cars can make it although at one point one would "have-it-rough", as quoted by Carolyn Newman trip leader. The Huerfano County Historical Society invites all to join in the trip. For more information please contact Carolyn Newman at 719-738-2840.

Saturday May 26: Trip to Site of Fort Massachusetts and the Fort Garland Petroglyphs. Ron Kessler will lead this trip to historic Fort Massachusetts located on the lower flanks of Mount Blanca near Fort Garland. In 1852 Fort Massachusetts was established in the San Luis Valley to protect settlers from the Ute who believed that the non-Indians were encroaching on their land. The fort was the first military post established within the present confines of Colorado. In 1858 Fort Garland was constructed in a better geographical position to protect early settlements in the San Luis Valley and Fort Massachusetts was abandoned. The petroglyphs to be visited near Fort Garland consist of about 20 distinct panels found on individual basalt boulders on a ridge side above Trinchera Creek. Abstract curvilinear lines, human-like figures, connected circles, rayed circles, concentric circles, and grids are the designs that are found here. It is thought that they date back to Late Archaic times. Please call Ron Kessler at 7129-852-5225 for more information about this trip.

Saturday and Sunday June 16 & 17: Utah Rock Art Society San Luis Valley Field Trip. Members of the Utah Rock Art Society will be in the Valley for a tour of rock art sites hosted by Ken Frye. Several openings for this outing will be available for San Luis Valley Archaeological Network members. Please call Ken Frye at 719-852-6233 (work) or 657-3161 to ask about details of the trip. You may also e-mail Ken at kfrye@fs.fed.us.

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday July 1, 2, 3: Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS) Encampment at the Mogote (Juniper) Campground. CAS holds an annual "Encampment" at a different Colorado location where about fifty people camp together to enjoy each other's company and the scenic surroundings. We are pleased to hear that this years outing will be held in the SLV at the Forest Service Juniper Campground on the Conejos River west of Antonito. A variety of field trips will be held and there will be evening speakers, including a presentation by Lee Coats on the Rock Art of New Mexico. Loretta Mitson will lead a trip to the Jack Dempsey Museum, Kiowa Hill fortifications, the King Turquoise Mine, and the Da Vargas Crossing site on July 3. Other trips to area rock art sites, early SLV settlements, the McIntire Mansion, and the San Antone Mountain basalt source are planned. SLV Archnet members are invited to attend all activities associated with this event. Please call Vince Spero at 719-852-6242 (work) or 873-5916 (home) for details. E-Mail address is vspero@peoplepc.com.

July 17 to 26 and August 7 to 16: Great Sand Dunes National Monument (GSDNM) Archaeological Inventory and Site Testing. The GSDNM will be conducting archaeological investigations, including the test excavation of prehistoric sites, during this time period. Volunteers from the SLV Archnet are encouraged to sign up to help. Site visitors will also be welcome. Please call Vince Spero at 719-852-6242 (work) or 873-5916 (home) for details.

August 16, 17, and 18: Continuation of Test Excavations at the Torrez Trading Post near La Garita. Last years testing revealed historic artifacts dating mainly to the 1920s and 1930s. Continued excavation of the same units to lower levels should unearth artifacts from the older occupation of the adobe structure. Volunteers are needed and tours will be done. Look for more information in upcoming Archaeo-Updates or call Vince Spero at 719-852-6242 (work) or 873-5916 (home) for details. E-Mail address is vspero@peoplepc.com.

September 1, 2, and 3: Pegi Jodry, Smithsonian Institution Archaeologist, will conduct an excavation of a Late Paleoindian site near the Sand Dunes National Monument. Several volunteers are needed for this project over the Labor Day weekend. In addition a site visit may be possible. Please look for more information in an upcoming issue of the Archaeo-Update.

Saturday, September 29: Lee Coats, of San Luis, will conduct an all day workshop on the Recording of Rock Art Sites. Lee, who has recorded many rock art sites in New Mexico and other locations, is very interested in the further recordation of rock art sites in the San Luis Valley the workshop will be followed the next week by a field session. Please look for more information in an upcoming issue of the Archaeo-Update.

Saturday, October 6: The field portion of the above Recording of Rock Art Sites workshop will be held during this session. Please look for details in an upcoming issue of the Archaeo-Update.

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