Go to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center home About Research About Education About American Indian Initiatives
 Show All - Hide All

News From The Field

March 27, 2009

Archaeologist Steve Copeland sets datums.
Crow Canyon archaeologist Steve Copeland sets datums for mapping at the Goodman Point Unit of Hovenweep National Monument.
Laura Martin of NPS operates total station.
Laura Martin of the National Park Service operates the total station, a digital-surveying device.

Most of March was warm and sunny here in southwestern Colorado, and the Crow Canyon field crew took advantage of the nice weather to kick-off the 2009 field season.  Steve Copeland and I headed out to the Goodman Point Unit of Hovenweep National Monument on March 3 to begin preparations for what will be the second year of Phase II excavations. And, for the last two weeks, Laura Martin, a National Park Service archaeologist working at Hovenweep National Monument, has also been helping us with mapping and other tasks ahead of the arrival of our first "digging" school group of the season, scheduled to arrive the last week in April.

So far this month we have mapped nine new Pueblo habitation sites, which we will test over this field season and the next, and we have set in 28 excavation units at those sites. The accompanying map shows the layout of one of the sites we'll be testing, Trail Terrace, so-named because it straddles a remnant of an ancient trail.

While mapping the sites, we have also been probing apparent kiva depressions with a 1-inch soil probe to look for evidence of burned structures. Such structures might yield charred wood that can be collected as tree-ring samples—the most reliable means we have for determining construction dates.

For the next several weeks, as weather permits, we will continue mapping the sites, stocking supplies, and assembling equipment to ensure a smooth launch of the field season. Special thanks to Laura for lending her expertise (and devoting so much time) to the effort—we couldn't have done it without her! And we extend an invitation to all of you to join us this year for another exciting season of discovery at Goodman Point.

Grant Coffey, Supervisory Archaeologist, Director of Goodman Point Archaeological Project Phase II