Archaeology Lab Program

Join us for analysis and replication of Basketmaker III jewelry and other ornaments!

Did you know that for every day an archaeologist spends in the field, at least four days are required in the laboratory? During a typical field season, thousands of artifacts and samples come into the Crow Canyon lab. The story of the past begins to come together only when these artifacts and samples are carefully processed and studied.

This year's Archaeology Lab Program will focus on ancestral Pueblo jewelry and other ornaments dating from the Basketmaker III period, A.D. 500–750. We will analyze beads, pendants, and other items of personal adornment from sites that Crow Canyon is currently excavating as part of the Basketmaker Communities Project. In addition, we'll use traditional tools and techniques to manufacture a variety of ornaments out of the same raw materials used by Basketmaker people—stone, animal bone, shell, seeds, and even insects!

Date and Tuition

Date: October 6–12, 2013

Tuition: Member*: $1,495; Nonmember: $1,620

* Minimum $100 membership required. See Membership.

Deposit: $400

Balance due: Full amount is due 45 days before the program start date. Cancellation at any time: $200 handling fee. Cancellation within 40 days of the program start date: forfeiture of all payments.

Information packet for Archaeology Lab Program (includes all required forms)

Educational Focus

Archaeological laboratory procedures and what the results of ornament analysis and replication can tell us about the lives of the ancestral Pueblo Indians (the Anasazi) of the Mesa Verde region.

Activities

Analysis of bone, seed, and shell ornaments from Basketmaker III sites

Replication of Basketmaker III jewelry and other ornaments

Field trips to our current excavation site and to area museums

Evening programs by Crow Canyon researchers or guest lecturers on their current research

Schedules and activities subject to change.

Program Details

Tuition: Tuition covers accommodations, meals, entry fees and permits, and local transportation after your arrival in Cortez until your departure from Cortez. Transportation to and from Cortez is your responsibility.

Accommodations and Meals: Our 170-acre campus provides space for relaxing, watching wildlife, walking through the pinyon and juniper woods, and enjoying panoramic mountain views from the rocking chairs on the lodge deck.

We provide shared accommodations in comfortable, Navajo-style log cabins (hogans). Private rooms are not available and, depending on enrollment, couples might not be housed together. Shared, modern shower and toilet facilities are located in a separate building adjacent to the hogans. You will need to provide your own bedding and towels.

Three delicious meals are served each day. You'll be treated to delectable, healthy meals that feature hearty entrees, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a salad bar. Most special diets can be accommodated.

Be sure to see Plan Your Visit to learn more about Crow Canyon and our campus.

Sharing the Campus

The Crow Canyon campus is a center of learning for children, teens, and adults! During the Archaeology Lab Program, you may be sharing the campus with others, including children in school group programs.

Terms and Conditions

Go to Terms and Conditions for more information about tuition, cancellation and refund policies, and accommodations.

Reserve Your Spot in this Archaeology Adventure

It's easy to reserve your spot in Archaeology Lab Program. If you want to sign up online now, click on the button at the top of this page. For other options (phone, mail, or fax), click here.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center's programs and admission practices are open to applicants of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California
CST 2059347-50