Petroglyphs pecked in sandstone.

Preserve

Archaeology

Explore Colorado's rich archaeological heritage through classes, research materials and our annual Archaeology & Historic Preservation month.

  • Office of the State Archaeologist

    The State Archaeologist's duties and responsibilities include the investigation of impacts to archaeological resources and response to questions for technical and administrative assistance.

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    NAGPRA Program

    History Colorado has adopted an active program of implementing the provisions of the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Our NAGPRA program philosophy is summarized in the following statement:

    NAGPRA calls for the establishment of new relationships between museums and Native Americans—relationships that reflect a spirit of cooperative interaction and partnership. It is of critical importance that History Colorado staff and administrators support an approach to NAGPRA issues that reflects a commitment to sustaining such relationships. This requires open and full communications with interested Native American communities and lineal descendants regarding History Colorado collections, as well as an institutional intent to consider repatriation claims for human remains and objects that fall under the law.

  • State-Approved Museums and Curatorial Repositories

    Information on the Office of the State Archaeologist's Approved Museums and Curatorial Repositories, holding held in-trust artifacts and fossils from State of Colorado, County, City and local municipal public lands.   

Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC)  

  • PAAC Program Introduction

    Currently, the program provides certification in two areas, Archaeological Survey and Archaeological Laboratory.  Each area offers several levels of certification.  There are 12 regular courses in PAAC, each of which applies toward the requirements of at least one PAAC certificate.  Special topics and additional courses are always being developed. Individuals completing the requirements for certification will be formally recognized as competent to perform the activities specified by each level and will receive a certificate of expertise for each level of certification.

  • PAAC Class Information

    There are 12 regular courses in the program, all of which have accompanying lists of suggested readings (Bibliography) and definitions of terms (Glossary) relevant to that subject.  Courses range from eight to 25 hours in length and are taught in 11 locations throughout Colorado.