Friday, September 12 - Tuesday, September 16, 2014, $370

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, comprising 183,000 acres of diverse geography, history, and culture in the southwest corner of Colorado, contains the “highest known density of archaeological sites in the Nation,” most of which have not been excavated, and many are even unmapped. Under the leadership of OAS Director Eric Blinman, the group will spend four days exploring and hiking in the multiple canyons and mesas of the area, visiting both developed and undeveloped sites, along with a tour of the Anasazi Heritage Center exhibitions and collections.

A probable itinerary will include Yucca House, Lowry, Yellow Jacket, and Goodman Point; sites in lower Sand Canyon and the McElmo Creek area; the spectacular architecture of Hovenweep’s Little Ruin Canyon (with a special trek to the petroglyph panel) and two outliers. Most sites date to the Pueblo III period (13th century), but a tour to undeveloped sites on Ute Mountain Ute tribal lands will include an extensive Pueblo I village. Evening talks have been arranged with local experts Sally Cole, Laurie Webster, and Kristin Kuckelman.

Lunches will be included for four days. A group rate for lodging is available at the Cortez Holiday Inn Express. Difficulty will range from easy to strenuous. Most sites will have no facilities. Cost is $370 per person ($100 of which is a tax deductible contribution to the Friends of Archaeology). Make reservations beginning May 13, 2014 at 12:01 am by calling (505) 982-7799, ext. 5. Please check back on this website and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation's Friends of Archaeology website for updates.