Prehistoric lithic course offered through Heritage Adventures

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – As part of the Heritage Adventures partnership, the Museum of Western Colorado’s Anthropology Department and the Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) are hosting a course on prehistoric lithic description and analysis on October 20-22, 2006.  The course will be held at the Whitman Educational Center at 4th and Ute Avenue in Grand Junction.

The course is part of the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC) and is co-sponsored by the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Colorado Historical Society.  During the course, Kevin Black, assistant Colorado state archaeologist, will introduce the technology of stone tool manufacture, identification of tool classes and basic lithic analysis.  Cost for the course is $40 per person, and the deadline for registration is Friday, October 6. 

“Heritage Adventures is a developing partnership that strives to involve the public in the identification, preservation, and interpretation of cultural heritage with a focus on west-central Colorado,” said Kim Murray, director of the Museum’s Heritage Adventures program. 

“One of the ways we can get the public involved in protecting their cultural resources is for them to learn about their cultural heritage,” added Aline LaForge, archaeologist for the BLM GJFO.  “We hosted an introductory course in archaeology last year, and we’re excited to bring the public another great learning opportunity this year.”

For more information about volunteering for Heritage Adventures or to register, call the Museum at (970) 242-0971, extension 209.  For more information about BLM’s cultural resources program, contact Aline LaForge at (970) 244-3038 or by e-mail at Aline_Laforge@blm.gov.  For more information on PAAC, call (303) 866-4671, access www.coloradohistory-oahp.org, or email Kevin.black@chs.state.co.us.

 -BLM-