January 20 (Wednesday).  CAS/NCC Program.
Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and program is at 7:00 p.m. at Pappy’s Corner Pub, 1027 W. Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins (map). The public is invited to attend -- non-members are welcome!  Program: Ice Path Archaeology in the Mid-latitude Rocky Mountains: A Five Year Retrospective on Discoveries and Prospects, by Dr. Craig M. Lee.  In the last several decades archaeological and paleontological materials have been discovered in association with melting snow and ice in northwestern North America and elsewhere around the world. Discoveries include complete arrows with fletching, sinew lashing and projectile points, as well as bark quivers, basket fragments and clothing, e.g., moccasins. The appearance of these unique cultural and scientific resources appears to coincide with regional impacts brought about by global climate change. The discoveries offer important new insights into alpine paleoecology and the use of high elevation environments by humans. This talk will review progress made in the last five years to identify and survey prospective locations from the greater Yellowstone area to Rocky Mountain National Park and highlight the continuing need to conduct systematic research in these locations.  Dr. Lee is the Research Director for Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and a Research Scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. He received an MA in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming in 2001 and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Colorado in 2007. He has worked for federal and state agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, and directed numerous projects in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. In addition to presenting dozens of papers at international and national conferences, he has published articles in peer reviewed journals, including American Antiquity and The Holocene. Dr. Lee is on the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Anthropological Association and the Lamb Spring Archeological Preserve, and a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Register of Professional Archaeologists. This program is free and open to the public. Please join us!

February 17 (Wednesday).  CAS/NCC Program.
Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and program is at 7:00 p.m. at Pappy’s Corner Pub, 1027 W. Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins (map). The public is invited to attend -- non-members are welcome!  Program:  Program: Archaeological Investigations and Rock Art Recording at Legend Rock State Archaeological Site, Wyoming, by Dr. Danny Walker, Wyoming Assistant State Archaeologist.  After nearly a twenty year hiatus, archaeological investigations continued at Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site in north central Wyoming during the 2007 field season. Wyoming State Parks renewed their proposed installation of formal walking paths at the site following two major episodes of vandalism to the site in 2006, as one measure to possibly alleviate this problem. Thirty-five one by one meter excavation units were placed along the proposed main path and three routes off that path. Despite having found several features in this area in 1988, only a single area of cultural occupation was found in 2007 along the terrace deposits of Cottonwood Creek. Nine additional units were placed at the base of two rock art panels exhibiting figures at present ground level. No intact cultural features were recorded in these areas. Close-range Photogrammetry began at Legend Rock in 2006 to provide baseline data for future evaluation of the petroglyph panels and any natural or vandalism damage that may occur. All prehistoric panels were photographed in 2007 for 3-dimensional modeling and imaging. The baseline photomosaic and the detailed photogrammetry will provide a resolution and positional accuracy of ~1 cm. Future work at the site will include yearly condition evaluation of the petroglyphs.
Dr. Walker is a native of Kansas, graduating from Fort Hays State College in 1970, with a degree in geology. While there, he worked as a museum assistant at the Sternberg Memorial Museum. He moved to Wyoming in 1970, working as the museum curator at the University of Wyoming Geology Museum. In 1973, he began a graduate degree program in Anthropology, graduating with a Master's of Arts in 1975. He also worked as an archaeological crew foreman for the Wyoming State Archaeologist's Office while working on that degree. In 1975, he was promoted to Assistant State Archaeologist, a position he still holds today. In 1986, a doctorate in Zoology and Physiology was awarded to him by the University of Wyoming. He continues his education with short courses on archaeological and anthropological topics.
This program is free and open to the public. Please join us!

March 17 (Wednesday).  CAS/NCC Program.
Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and program is at 7:00 p.m. at Perkins Restaurant, 310 S. College, Fort Collins. The public is invited to attend -- non-members are welcome!  Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and program is at 7:00 p.m. at Perkins Restaurant (note different location this month only!), 310 S. College Ave, Fort Collins. Program: Re-evaluation of Castle Gardens Petroglyphs Site, Wyoming. The petroglyphs at the Castle Gardens Petroglyphs site in central Wyoming were re-evaluated with the purpose of photographing and mapping with a GPS all previously recorded rock art panels.  A total of 73 petroglyph panels or portions of panels have been previously recorded at Castle Gardens, of which 59 were relocated and recorded during this inventory. In addition to the previously recorded petroglyphs, 53 rock art panels were newly recorded (2009-01 through 2009-53), some of which are considered to be authentic, while others are of questionable authenticity or are probably not authentic.  The history of research at Castle Gardens will be reviewed, and the findings from our 2009 season will be discussed. John Williams is an archaeologist with over fifteen years of research and consultancy spanning the Rocky Mountain region, High Plains, Great Basin, Four Corners, Middle East and Europe.  His academic background focused on the Paleolithic of the Near East and Europe, and his is currently owner of Atlatl Industries LLC, an archaeological consulting firm focusing on the prehistory and history of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain west.  This program is free and open to the public.