Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

Stories of the Native American experience, including the Pueblo people, are often told in past tense. At the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, however, visitors experience a broader understanding of Indigenous cultures—past and present—through immersive workshops, research programs, and travel seminars. Experience the diverse cultural heritage of Mesa Verde Country!

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is a 501 (c)(3), not-for-profit, research facility and living classroom offering hands-on archaeology programs. The Center is located on 170 acres in the high desert (6,200 feet in elevation) where deep sandstone canyons meet pinyon-, juniper-, and sage-covered plains.

Reserve a spot on a Cultural Explorations program—small group tours guided by archaeologists, cultural specialists, tribal members, and other subject-matter experts imparting the importance of contexts and perspectives in archeological studies. In addition, the Research Institute Crow Canyon hosts resident and visiting interdisciplinary scholars collaborating and sharing extensive research with the larger community.

BE A CITIZEN SCIENTIST WITH CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER

Crow Canyon was founded on the idea that members of the public could play an important role in archaeology. Each year, the Center welcomes people of all ages to serve as citizen scientists in support of its mission to pursue archaeological research and experiential education in collaboration with Native Americans.

ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM: HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS

Join an important research opportunity as a citizen scientist to help advance understanding of human-environment relationships in the Mesa Verde region of Southwest Colorado. For this unique program, we’ve brought together more than a dozen scholars and educators in Indigenous and Western archaeology to guide us through inquiry, learning, and discussion about how Ancestral Pueblo peoples forged relationships with the environment through time. Together we’ll contemplate themes like water management, sustainable agriculture, and migration as we learn from Indigenous perspectives, engage in hands-on research methods, and visit area landscapes with respect.

Highlights:

• Your participation in this program directly contributes to furthering research of the Northern Chaco Outliers Project.
• Experience one of the most archaeological-rich locations in the U.S.
• Enjoy the rural comfort of campus life on 170-acres complete with nature trails, stunning views, rocking chairs, and a night sky full of constellations.

Visit the Center’s Archaeology Research Program to learn more about the team of scholars, tuition, registration, and program details.

Before You Go

• Advance reservations required

Getting There

Located northwest of Cortez, 23390 Road K

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to be part of living history here in Southwest Colorado. Start planning your visit to experience archaeology firsthand here in Mesa Verde Country!