Chipeta Chapter Logo

Chipeta Chapter

Colorado Archaeological Society

Montrose, CO


About

The Chipeta Chapter, established in Montrose, CO in 1935, is the oldest continuously active chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS). Our objectives are to foster interest in archaeology and to discourage the exploitation of archaeological resources.

CAS is a non-profit organization with chapters located throughout the state. Members include professional and avocational archaeologists as well as individuals interested in learning more about the practices and discoveries of archaeology.

Chipeta Chapter benefits include:

Meetings

Join us on the third Wednesday of each month (except in December, June, July, and August) for an entertaining and educational archaeological presentation. Meetings are free and open to the public. In addition, we hold special events for members, including a summer picnic and a winter holiday party.

Next Meeting

Who:
Connie Massingale
What:
Creating Color in Prehistoric Art of the Southwest: Pigment procurement, processing, and application in the pictographs of Utah and Colorado
When:
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Where:
Baldridge Hall, Montrose United Methodist Church
19 S. Park Avenue, Montrose, CO
(at the corner of S. 1st Street and Park Avenue)

Red ochre, also known as iron oxide or hematite, has been revered for over 200,000 years as evidenced in the archaeological record. Its usage in funerary contexts, self ornamentation, staining on jewelry and weaponry, medicinally, in tool making, and in creating imagery on stone has played a significant role in the evolution of man.

In this presentation, Massingale will touch on ancient uses of ochre throughout time, and discuss the use of red ochre and other mineral and organic pigments used in the incredible pictographs found throughout Utah and Colorado.

Connie Massingale is a certified avocational archaeologist who has a deep interest in the landscapes of the Four Corners and the people who have traveled through, and lived on, this landscape. She is a volunteer at the BLM in Moab and a site steward in Grand and San Juan Counties. She works at the ßEdge of Cedars museum in Blanding, Utah, documenting ceramics.


Field Trips

The western slope of Colorado offers many opportunities for field trips to archaeological sites. Our chapter has been leading field trips for over eighty years. We even have original field notebooks from the 1960's!

If you would like to attend a field trip...
Full details are e-mailed to all members, including information about how to sign up and where and when to meet. Field trips are restricted to members, their guests, and members of other chapters if space permits. Due to the sensitive nature of archaeological sites, we do not post complete information about field trips on this web site.
If you would like to lead a field trip...

Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification
(PAAC)

Established in 1978 by the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado, PAAC allows individuals to obtain formally recognized levels of expertise outside of an academic degree program. PAAC facilitates avocational public service and the protection of archaeological resources in Colorado.

See the History Colorado - PAAC website for more information.

Contact the PAAC Coordinator to make suggestions or find more information about local classes.


Site Stewards

In the site stewardship program, volunteers from our chapter (and other organizations) monitor historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites on public lands. Site stewards provide a valuable service by reporting changes—both natural and human-caused damage—to sites on public lands.

Site stewards must...

To become a site steward, or for more information about the program, contact the Site Steward Coordinator.


Join/Donate

Consider joining over 100 chapter members who participate in numerous educational, recreational, and service activities. Membership is open to anyone interested in archaeology who is in agreement with the CAS Code of Ethics.

To join
To donate

For more information contact the Membership Chair.


Newsletter

The Uncompahgre Journal
Recent Issues
Past Issues
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2011
2010
2009

Other publications can be found at the Colorado Archaeological Society.


Contact

Board Members
President
Alma Evans
president@chipetachaptercas.org
Vice President and Professional Advisor
Leigh Ann Hunt
vp@chipetachaptercas.org
Secretary
Elizabeth Binder
secretary@chipetachaptercas.org
Treasurer
Jim Douras
treasurer@chipetachaptercas.org
CAS Representative
Nick Ard
casrep@chipetachaptercas.org
Standing Committees
Membership Chair
Sally Johnson
membership@chipetachaptercas.org
Newsletter Editor
Dave Batten
editor@chipetachaptercas.org
Site Steward Coordinator
Leigh Ann Hunt
sitestewards@chipetachaptercas.org
Library Chair
Linda Manske
library@chipetachaptercas.org
Other Committees and Posts
PAAC Coordinator
Leigh Ann Hunt
paac@chipetachaptercas.org
Field Trip Committee
Leigh Ann Hunt
Joe Oglesby
George Decker
fieldtrips@chipetachaptercas.org