Numerous Crow Canyon researchers, interns, and College Field School students had the honor of presenting at the recent Pecos Conference August 10–13, 2023 in Flagstaff, AZ. Their poster presentations covered a range of Crow Canyon research topics and sites, including Hawkins Preserve, the Haynie site, Pueblo II pottery, and projectile points. Learn more about the presenters and their topics in the summaries below:
Survey of Hawkins Preserve (Cortez, Colorado)
Julia Frost, Jesse Vigil, Levi Johannsen
The Hawkins Preserve is 122 acres of privately owned publicly accessible land south of Cortez, Colorado. Its owner, the Cortez Cultural Center partnered with Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in 2020 to conduct surveys at the Preserve to document new sites and expand knowledge of previously documented areas. The 2021 Range Fire burned the southern third of the Preserve, providing an opportunity to conduct further research on areas that may have been previously overgrown. The 2023 College Field School, under the guidance of Grant Coffey and Dr. Kellam Throgmorton, conducted surveys and documented new sites ranging from potentially the Archaic Period to the modern day. These data can be used to infer cultural occupation and use in this under surveyed part of the Central Mesa Verde Region. The knowledge gained benefits researchers and the public in their collective efforts for preservation and demonstrates the deep cultural continuity of Indigenous peoples.
Auger Testing at the Haynie Site (5MT1905): Locating and Identifying Cultural Deposits
Alan Bradley, Shaan Vernenkar, Denali Cook
The Haynie site (5MT1905) is a large, multi-component village with two Chaco-style great house located in Southwest Colorado. It is owned by The Archaeological Conservancy. The construction of a modern house significantly affected archaeological deposits at the site. Crow Canyon’s 2023 College Field School conducted auger testing that revealed midden deposits and pitstructures, in addition to areas of recent disturbance. The information from the auger testing expands the area of known intact deposits, identifies a previously unknown pitstructure, and will help inform management decisions made by The Archaeological Conservancy.
Pottery and Social Identity in Pueblo II Design Analysis
Aidan Keener, Adriana Sarduy, Zee Fleak
This research focuses on Pueblo II pottery types at six villages located in the San Juan region using a classification system first developed by Stephens-Reed and elaborated on by Bellordo et al. Specifically, the villages are located in southwestern Colorado’s Lakeview Community as well as Pueblo Alto in Chaco Canyon and two other Chaco great houses outside of the Canyon. The diversity of pottery indicates decentralized exchange and production. Many sites had a high prevalence of Dogoszhi style, which reflected Chaco social ties. Dogoszhi existed alongside various other styles which reflected local traditions, indicating community residents displayed multiple identities while continuously associating with Chaco Canyon.
A Closer Look at Drills and Drill Holes
Kate Hughes and Tyson Hughes
This pilot study analyzes drills and drill holes from the Haynie site (5MT1905) assemblage, a large multicomponent Ancestral Pueblo site in the Central Mesa Verde Region outside of Cortez, CO. Drills are commonly understudied, so we take a more detailed look at form, material, and use wear of Haynie site drills and identified drill holes in the assemblage. We examine these artifacts to explore what drill trends emerge at the Haynie site using macro and microscopic approaches paired with experimental archaeology.
A Palette of Points: Exploring the Aesthetics of Curated and Contemporary Projectile Points at the Haynie Site (5MT1905)
Projectile points, often viewed solely through a utilitarian lens, offer valuable insights into the past. However, the significance of these artifacts likely extends beyond their functional aspects, encompassing aesthetic and cultural dimensions. This research poster aims to bridge this gap by investigating the appearance of Archaic and Basketmaker “curated” points alongside Pueblo I and II “contemporary” points at the Haynie site (5MT1905), a multi-component site located in the Central Mesa Verde Region in southwestern Colorado. Through meticulous examination and comparison, we explore the visual attributes of curated and contemporary points by analyzing factors such as color, transparency, and luster.