Each year the Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado (OSAC) sponsors an archaeological inventory ("survey") on a parcel of state property, typically during the June-August period when few classes are scheduled.  The purposes of the survey are to provide field training in surveying techniques for PAAC volunteers, applicable toward certification requirements, and to help OSAC meet its statutory obligations to inventory land within Colorado.  Previously undocumented archaeological and historical sites are discovered during the inventory, and added to OSAC’s database for use in future research.

Field training involves hiking across undeveloped lands in search of artifacts and features more than fifty years old.  When such sites are discovered, volunteers are instructed in the production of sketch maps, filling out standard recording forms, plotting site locations on topographic maps, artifact illustration, etc.  Credit toward certification is earned for the days spent under professional supervision (Certified Surveyor I), and for each site form which volunteers complete following the inventory (Provisional Surveyor).  Final technical reports on the summer surveys held at Pike’s Stockade in Conejos County and Hermit Park in Larimer County describe the training survey program in greater detail as well as providing interpretations of those previous inventories.  The Antelope Gulch slide presentation provides a progress report on the current project (hover the cursor over the orange thought bubble in the upper left corner of each slide for details).

• Download Hermit Park Report (5.6 MB, PDF)
• Download Pike's Stockade Report (12 MB, PDF)
• Download Antelope Gulch Progress Report (5 MB, PDF)

The 2011 Summer Training Survey was conducted in the Antelope Gulch area, northeast of Salida in Fremont County.  Twenty-two volunteers participated for two to four days each, and helped record a total of 21 archaeological sites and 17 isolated finds dating from the range of the Late Archaic through the Historic period (1800 BC-AD 1960).  Prehistoric artifacts such as projectile points, bifaces, scrapers, and flake tools were well-represented on the survey, along with several ground stone artifacts.  Especially prevalent was debitage (flaking debris) from intensive flintknapping activity involving use of locally available jasper and chert toolstone materials.  The Historic period record is not as abundant but includes mining-related sites such as cairns and prospect pits from gem and mineral exploration, and more evidence of an early utility line dating to 1885-1910.  This project, which is now concluding, is on lands surrounding a site described in a journal article by Donald Tucker [2001 in Southwestern Lore (67)1:1-17], “Stone Circles at Antelope Gulch, Fremont County, Colorado.”   The time and place for the 2012 training survey project have yet to be determined.

Because PAAC training sites such as Antelope Gulch are in remote locations lacking public facilities of any sort, and involve hiking across somewhat rugged terrain, prospective participants must be in reasonably good physical condition.  The ability to contend with hot summer days, bothersome insects, and generally primitive working conditions is a necessity.  Volunteers must supply their own transportation, room and board, daypack and personal gear such as canteens, but there is no fee for participation.  The Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado (OSAC) supplies all surveying, recording and mapping equipment as well as the professional archaeologist(s) who supervises the volunteers.

Prospective participants must submit (or have previously submitted) a signed PAAC application form, and completion of the Basic Site Surveying Techniques, Colorado Archaeology, and Prehistoric Lithics Description & Analysis classes is highly recommended prior to field training.  In general, the more PAAC classes one has completed the more rewarding the experience on the Summer Training Survey.  However, if space is available, no classroom experience is required for participation on the survey.  For the 2012 season, the survey will be held on June 12-20 in the Pawnee Buttes area of eastern Weld County.  Applicants for the survey should identify on which specific dates they prefer to participate (two days minimum) and provide their mailing address, phone/fax, and e-mail address.  The deadline for 2012 applications is May 25, 2012.