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SLV ARCHAEOLOGICAL NETWORK RESEARCH DESIGN

On Saturday, April 6 eighteen members gathered in Monte Vista to begin to formulate a research design for the SLV Archaeological Network. The group spent most of the day discussing what we would like to learn about the archaeology of the San Luis Valley and how we could structure a workable research design that addressed these questions. The research design, to be used to guide the archaeological investigations of our group, fits into our mission to identify, record, protect, preserve, and restore archaeological sites in the SLV. Educational programs, exhibits, a variety of tours, cultural resource inventories, and site testing are the means used to realize our mission. In order to accomplish our goals we have identified the following research objectives that will be the basis for any cultural resource inventory or research endeavor.

• Identification and recording of well preserved archaeological sites that have the potential for absolute and relative dates. We will look for and record sites that are not vandalized or have at least partially undisturbed buried archaeological deposits. The Carbon-14 dating of charcoal or projectile point type studies could help address this objective.
  

• Establishment of a local prehistoric chronology or time-line, based on absolute and relative dates. This is critical in understanding prehistoric adaptations of people using the San Luis Valley.

• Identification of the density and geographical distribution of cultural sites. This information is needed in order to learn about habitation and subsistence strategies and possible cultural differences. Determining the influence of geographical features and ecological zones on the movement patterns of people may also be addressed. Entering site information, such as the locations of rock art sites, into a database can help us determine site density and distribution on the landscape.

• Identification of site function. Sites may function as habitation, resource procurement, food processing, ceremonial, defensive, offensive, or even astronomical sites. Determining site function can be done by artifact analysis or by the analysis of plant remains or the skeletal material of animals.

• Identification of resource utilization strategies. Where and how people procured stone for making tools, what plants were used and how they were prepared, or how game drives and blinds were placed can shed light on strategies used.

• Identification of locations that have the potential for providing data on past environments. Sediment cores from glacial lakes or suitable pack-rat middens can provide evidence that can be analyzed to determine past environmental conditions.

• Determination of external relationships such as trade, migration, adaptation, seasonal utilization, or conflict. Research pertaining to rock art styles, raw material sources of stone used to manufacture tools, or looking for similarities in habitation structure types can be done to address this objective.

The work session was productive in providing for the beginnings of a San Luis Valley Research Design that can be expanded to guide us in working to better understand the archaeology of the San Luis Valley. We will continue to work on the research design in future sessions.

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SLV ARCHAEOLOGICAL NETWORK 2002 ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Sunday, May 19 Piedrosa Canyon Archaeological Inventory.

Piedrosa Canyon, in the western foothills of the SLV, is proposed for a prescribed fire by the Rio Grande National Forest therefore, an archaeological inventory must be done to document sites that have the potential to be damaged. This remote area, including three beautiful canyons with areas of rock walls, will be inventoried for rock art and for stone structure sites. We will hike several miles and rock walls will be scaled to look for sites. We will meet at the church parking lot in the town of Capulin at 10:00 AM. Capulin is located 10 miles to the west of La Jara on Colorado Highway 15. The church is located on the south side of the road. For more information please contact Vince Spero at: 719-873-5916, 28 Wendar Drive, South Fork CO 81154, or by e-mail (vspero@amigo.net).

Sunday, June 16 Sentinel Mountain Fortification and Hike to Lost Lake Fortification

The Sentinel Mountain Fortification, immediately adjacent to the town of South Fork, is an intriguing stone fortification discovered and reported by an area schoolteacher in 1985. Its purpose is unknown but there are several theories as to its origin, which we shall discuss at the site. The trip will involve climbing a short, but steep ridge side over rocky ground. The Lost Lake site is a series of small stone structures high on a rocky ridge overlooking the SLV. The rather rigorous hike is characterized by climbing steeper slopes for about one hour. Plan to meet at 9:30 AM at the South Fork Visitors Center. We will visit the Sentinel Site first and will begin the climb to Lost Lake about 11:30 AM. . For more information please contact Vince Spero at: 719-873-5916, 28 Wendar Drive, South Fork CO 81154

July 14 Velarde, New Mexico Rock Art Site Trip

The area of Velarde, New Mexico is the home to what is considered to be some of the best rock art in the state. It is very concentrated and dates from Archaic times to after the Spanish arrived. Velarde is located about 7 miles to the north of Espanola on Highway 68. Lee Coats, who is very familiar with the area, will lead this trip to some of the premier rock art in New Mexico. Please call Lee after at 719-672-4010 for details about the time and meeting place.

Other activities planned for later in the summer or early fall include a tour of the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area, the most isolated and remote of the Ancestral Pueblo communities associated with Chaco Canyon. Also planned for September 13, 14, 15 is the test excavation of stone structures at site 5SH73, located to the west of Saguache. We may have to excavate a site on private land because of concerns received by Indian Tribes. Lab analysis and test excavation report writing will follow in October and November. Look for more information on these activities in the next Archaeo-Update.

For images from a later trip, please visit our Velarde Rock Art Trip,April, 26, 2003 Page.

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