Join us on a journey through time to the lands between Mesa Verde National Park and Bears Ears National Monument, as we investigate cultural...
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Archaeology Research Program
Crow Canyon was founded on the idea that members of the public could play an important role in archaeology. Each year, we welcome people of all ages to our campus near Mesa Verde in Southwest Colorado. Participants serve as citizen scientists in support of our mission to pursue archaeological research and experiential education in collaboration with Native Americans.
Crow Canyon’s experiential education programs not only provide instruction in archaeological techniques but also involve citizen scientists in the actual research process. This firsthand approach increases awareness of, and appreciation for, our rich cultural heritage, while providing broad-based support for archaeological research, preservation, and cultural continuity.
ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
As a “citizen scientist,” you’ll conduct research and in-field artifact analyses alongside Crow Canyon archaeologists in an effort to help us build new, relevant understandings of the past. For lifelong learners age 18 and up.
Highlights
- Study the effects of human impacts on the natural environment through time, and how humans have responded to environmental change.
- Learn about the technological innovations and sustainability of cultures past and present.
- Dive into the variables that shape the development of human societies and gain an appreciation for cultural diversity and social frameworks.
- See how human history unfolded across the landscape of the Mesa Verde region.
- Gain transferable skills in cultural and scientific literacy.
Contact Us
Program availability is limited due to COVID-19. Please contact us for updates, or join us every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. for the Discover Archaeology webinar series. Check the homepage for upcoming events.
For more information, please contact our engagement coordinator:
800.422.8975, ext. 451
M–F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mountain Time)
[email protected]
Our Research Themes
Our projects address a wide variety of interrelated issues relevant not only to archaeologists but to educators, policy makers, advocacy groups, and Indigenous peoples.

Humans and the Environment
We study how humans responded to environmental change in the past and the implications for environmental policy.

Multivocal Histories
We promote respect for different cultures and preserve traditional knowledge, past and present.

Cultural and Scientific Literacy
As a social science with deep roots in STEM, archaeology helps students become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.

Indigenous People of the Four Corners: The Lands Between
Cortez, CO
08-28-2022
Starting at: $3,200

Communities Through Time: Mesa Verde Region
Cortez, CO
09-18-2022
Join us on an exploration of nearly 40-years of research in the Mesa Verde region. Trace sites through time from the Basketmaker III to Pueblo III...
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Starting at: $3,800

SOLD OUT Line of Sight: The Bears Ears
Blanding, UT
10-23-2022
Trace the “High Road” of Ancestral Puebloans by visiting Great Houses, Tower Sites, and Petroglyph Panels of high places. Begin our journey in...
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Starting at: $3,000