Several kinds of boxed artifact collections ("loan kits") are available for loan to teachers:

• Most represent the Ancestral Puebloan or "Anasazi" culture of Southwest Colorado between A.D. 1 and A.D. 1300. Most items in these kits are original archaeological materials (some plant-based items are replicas). 
  
  
• One kit, Bear Dance: Window to Ute Culture, represents historic and contemporary Ute culture.
  
  
• All children must be closely supervised to prevent damage to the fragile original artifacts.
  

DESCRIPTION OF KITS:

General Survey kits contain many kinds of artifacts (pottery, bone, stone, vegetal, etc.) representing aspects of the Ancestral Puebloan culture. Each kit is accompanied by activities for curated objects including "Telling and Object's Story" and "Name that Artifact." The Intriguing Past, a general teaching guide produced by the BLM's Project Archaeology Team, introduces fundamental concepts of archaeology. The guidebook is best for grades 4-12, but kits may be used with younger children.  

Chronological Sequence kits contain materials similar to the General Survey kits, but the artifacts are sorted by time period to show developmental stages of the culture.  

Plant Material kits contain samples of domestic and wild plants cultivated or gathered for food, medicine, clothing, etc. "Nature's Harvest," an ethnobotany activity from the Escalante Pueblo Curriculum, is included along with interpretive material from the AHC nature trail discussing plants found in the kits.  

Ceramics Typology kits contain varieties of pottery samples from the Northern San Juan region. The kit offers two levels of classification activities (elementary and upper secondary through college) using the newly-developed "AHC Typology Guide."

Bear Dance: Window to Ute Culture kit contains artifacts, lessons plans, and audiovisual materials for four activities. Artifacts include dance regalia, beadwork, drum, rasp and game sticks. The accompanying Bear Dance Curriculum is useful with grades 4-12, but the kit may be used with any age. more info... 

Size and weight: Variable. The largest kits measure about 18 x 18 x 24 inches and weigh about 12 lbs. Most kits contain about 25 items.

Cost to borrow: No cost at this time.  

To obtain or reserve a kit: Contact the Anasazi Heritage Center by phone at (970) 882-5600.

 

Lead time required:  Call at least two weeks before you plan to use the kit. Kits are currently shipped first-class by the U.S. Postal Service. Many teachers reserve kits several months in advance, so plan ahead.

For more information: contact us by email , or by phone (970) 882-5600.