Upcoming Events

Summer Project 2023 – Phase 2

What: Historical archaeology project on private ranch north of Fort Collins – Due to the inclement weather we had in the spring, we were unable to complete our project work in May. We will be revisiting the site on September 15th and 16th to conduct some excavation pits in the main foundation and the secondary location. Due to the smaller work space on this phase of the project, we are, unfortunately, not in need of additional volunteers. We hope to report on the findings later in the fall!
When: September 15-16, 2023

Monthly Meeting – September 2023

When: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 – Please know that food/beverages will not be available.
Time: 5:15 p.m. – Note the change in meeting time and location (this month only). We have the unique opportunity to hear from the CSU archaeological collections coordinator, Jeannine Pedersen-Guzman, and tour the new, temporary CSU collections repository!
Where: Update on getting to the Clark Building, room C249 – The Clark Building is on the CSU main campus just east of the Morgan Library. Free parking is available after 4:00 p.m. in the lot to the west of the Morgan Library (in both pay-to-park and zone designated as A). To get to the Clark Building from the parking lot, walk east on the sidewalk south of the Morgan Library. The C-wing of Clark will be on your right as you go under the overpass. Go up the stairs to the second floor and look for room C249.
Speaker: Jeannine Pedersen-Guzman, MA, CSU Archaeological Collections Coordinator

Visit to the CSU Archaeological Repository – The Archaeological Repository of Colorado State University exists to curate and preserve archaeological collections from Colorado and promote their educational, scientific, and cultural use to benefit a diverse public.  The collection got its start in the early 1970s as the CSU Laboratory of Public Archaeology (LOPA). LOPA completed hundreds of Cultural Resource Management projects throughout Colorado and collected material from over 1,200 archaeological sites and 800+ isolated finds. The Repository is also home to the collections excavated during the past 50+ years of Field Schools facilitated by CSU. Jeannine Pedersen-Guzmán was hired in 2017 as the Repository’s first Archaeological Collections Coordinator.  During her tenure, the repository has gained Federal and State approval as an official repository and received three grants from History Colorado’s State Historical Fund to organize and preserve the collection.  Jeannine will take us through the history of this unique collection, speak of plans for the future, and offer a tour of the repository’s new, temporary space in the Morgan Library.

CAS 2023 Annual Conference

Date: September 29 – October 1, 2023
Time: See https://www.coloradoarchaeology.org/annual-conference for information
Where: Colorado Springs, CO
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Chris Fisher

Past Events

Monthly Meeting – May 2023

When: Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. and presentation beginning around 6:15. Meeting will conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Cantina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth Roads)
Speaker: Melissa Kindt on How Human Remains Dogs Can Assist in Archaeology Projects

How Human Remains Dogs Can Assist in Archaeology Projects – Melissa and her dog, Hawk, have been a part of numerous search and rescue situations for the past eight years. As Hawk reaches his later years, Melissa has switched his main focus to the archaeology and cultural resources realm. In April 2023, Melissa and Hawk conducted a demonstration at a private ranch in Northern Colorado where four unmarked graves were known to exist. Hawk was able to pinpoint all four of the graves along with two potential others that were previously unknown! Come to our May meeting and learn how archaeologists and cultural resource managers can use detection dogs as a non-invasive survey tool!

Monthly Meeting – April 2023

When: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. and presentation beginning around 6:15. Meeting will conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Cantina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth Roads)
Speaker: Spencer Little, CSU Graduate Student – Hells Midden

Unbelievably Deep: Chronological Assessment of the Hells Midden Site – Spencer will be discussing his thesis research on an archaeological collection excavated by the University of Colorado. This site, Hells Midden (5MF16), is a deeply buried and stratified archaeological site in Northwest Colorado. It is located in an area dominated by shallowly-buried, single component Fremont sites, many of which are famous for containing incredible perishable materials. Hells Midden is somewhat unique in this area for its long sequence of occupation which dates back to at least the Middle Archaic period. Spencer’s talk will discuss the history of investigations here, the recent reanalysis conducted for his thesis research, and the significance of this site for understanding the regional record and precontact agriculture in Northwestern Colorado. 

Monthly Meeting – March 2023

When: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. and presentation beginning around 6:15. Meeting will conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Cantina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth Roads)
Speaker: Steve Main, foremost rock art expert in Northern Colorado!

Monthly Meeting – February 2023

When: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. and presentation beginning around 6:15. Meeting will conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Cantina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth Roads)
Speaker: Ethan Gannett, OCTA Colorado-Cherokee Trail Chapter Mapping Committee Chair

Monthly Meeting – January 2023

Kelton Meyer will be giving us a fabulous presentation of “Reevaluating the Chronology of Alpine Hunting in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado”, and it looks like it’s going to be a good one! Social time is at 5:30pm, brief business meeting at 6pm, and presentation will be at 6:15pm. Hope to see all of our members there!

Monthly Meeting – November 2022

When: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. Meeting will conclude at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Catina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth)
Speaker: None

This meeting will focus on election of 2023 officers and planning of upcoming events. If you’re interested in a greater role in the organization, be sure to attend!

CAS 2022 Annual Conference

Date: October 22nd- 23rd, 2022
Time: Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Embassy Suites, Loveland, Colorado
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jason LaBelle

Monthly Meeting – September 2022

When: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Time: 5:30-6:00 p.m. social time with business meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. Presentation on Old Man Mountain in Estes Park to follow at approximately 6:15 p.m. Meeting will conclude at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Catina, 1027 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins (southeast corner of Shields and Horsetooth)
Speaker: Jon Suhy on Old Man Mountain in Estes Park

Roberts Ranch Tour, Lightning Hill – July 30, 2022

Date: June 30th, 2022
Time: 9am
Where: Roberts Ranch (private)
Speaker: Jason LaBelle
” Tour of Roberts Ranch Archaeology ”

Monthly Meeting – December 2019

Date: December 11th, 2019
Time: 6:30-7:30PM
Where: Colorado State University, Room A26
Speaker: Rich Wilshusen
“Lessons Learned at Chaco: Contract Archaeology, Culture History, and Heritage Management (1969-2019)”

Roberts Ranch Tour – September 22nd, 2019

In partnership with Historic Larimer County (HLC) a tour of the Roberts Ranch was held on Sunday, September 22nd. This tour focused on structures and sites on the original 1874 homestead and the Roberts Ranch Buffalo Jump.