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:
- Entertaining and educational archaeological presentations at our meetings
- Field trips to sites around Colorado and surrounding states
- Opportunities to participate in professionally supervised archaeological projects, volunteer work trips, and service projects
- Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC) classes
- CAS membership
- CAS annual meetings
- Publications
- The Uncompahgre Journal: Chipeta Chapter newsletter
- The Surveyor: CAS newsletter
- Southwestern Lore: CAS journal
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:
- H. Sonny Shelton
- What:
- Hoofbeats From the Past: Archaeological Evidence of the Horse in Western Colorado
- When:
- Wednesday, April 17, 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)
Dominquez Archaeological Research Group (DARG) archaeologists are actively working to document and record horse related rock art in western Colorado. These rare pictograph and petroglyph images depict the horse as it was experienced by the indigenous peoples who used, cared for, and valued them.
Recently, DARG researchers have discovered unexpected and surprising details in these images by applying decorrelation stretch technology to curation quality photographs of this very special type of rock art. Today, these fragile images are threatened by climate change, wildfire, and vandalism. Locating and scientifically documenting them aids in protecting and preserving them for the public, for Native American tribal members, and for future generations.
Join archaeologist H. "Sonny" Shelton as she takes you on a journey to explore the origins of the horse in western Colorado, including fossils found in the region, the history of the domesticated American horse, and the remarkable story of the horse as preserved in the Native American rock art of western Colorado.
Holly "Sonny" Shelton is an archaeologist, faunal analysis specialist, and volunteer associate with Dominquez Archaeological Research Group. Since the 1970s she has worked as an archaeologist performing surveys and excavations throughout the Southwest and primarily in western Colorado. In 2016 she initiated the Western Colorado Bison Project, a History Colorado State Historical Fund grant-supported DARG research project. She also works on the Colorado Wickiup Project.
Shelton has also been privileged to serve the western slope public for over 30 years as a Registered Nurse.
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...
- Please review the Field Trip Leader Guidelines.
- Fill out the Field Trip Announcement form.
- Contact a member of the board to have your trip approved.
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...
- Complete a 1-day Site Stewardship class
- Be able to hike across rugged and uneven terrain
- Commit to visit assigned site(s) an agreed-upon number of times per year
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 set up a new account on the membership portal: Member365 New Accounts.
- If you already have an account on the portal: Member365 Existing Accounts.
- If you prefer to submit a paper application, print this form and submit to the address given on the form. Allow up to 4 weeks for paper renewals to be processed.
- Existing members will be sent an annual renewal e-mail with a link to the portal.
To donate
- Online donations can be made here.
For more information contact the Membership Chair.
Newsletter
The Uncompahgre Journal
Recent Issues
Past Issues
2023
2022
2021
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
Links/Forms
Links
- Colorado Archaeological Society
- History Colorado
- CAS Member365 New Accounts
- CAS Member365 Existing Accounts
- CAS Code of Ethics
- Online donations