Field Trips
Sunday, October 1st
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The day will begin at the Douglas County repository in Castle Rock at 10:00 AM. We will begin by viewing the artifacts from the cave at the repository in Castle Rock. We will then proceed to visit the site after lunch at the repository.
Blackfoot Cave Site in Douglas County was excavated over an eight-year period by the Denver Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Douglas County government. Colorado State University has conducted field schools in archaeology at the site. Abundant artifacts were discovered which dated from the Early Archaic period to historic times. Blackfoot Cave is unique in that it is the only known site with many Early Archaic artifacts found on the High Plains east of the hogback/foothills area. The site was a frequently visited camp focused on processing of both animal and plant foods as well as manufacture and maintenance of stone tools. Located to the east of the more commonly used hogback/foothills area, Blackfoot Cave appears to have provided its occupants with a refuge from the hot, dry plains during the late Early Archaic period.
There is evidence that prehistoric people occupied the cave and surrounding area from 10,000 years before present (BP) through 1540 AD. Evidence also shows that the cave and surrounding area was occupied by modern tribes from the 1540s through the 1840s. European contact occurred as early as the 1540s by the Spanish Conquistadors.
The cave is also associated with a trail that became known as the Cherokee Trail in the mid-1800s. It is likely that portions of the route were used by prehistoric peoples and modern tribes long before European contact. The Cherokee Trail was an overland route that started in Salina, Kansas and provided connections for those traveling north to the Oregon Trail, or the Santa Fe Trail to the south. Diaries written in the mid-1800s document travelers using the cave for shelter, where they stopped to rest along the way. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners currently owns the property that the Blackfoot cave is located on.
Driving directions will be provided at the registration desk on Saturday, in addition to the necessary waiver forms. You will also need to bring 2 signed waivers:
9:00 am – 1:pm
The day will begin at the Douglas County repository in Castle Rock at 10:00 AM. We will begin by viewing the artifacts from the cave at the repository in Castle Rock. We will then proceed to visit the site after lunch at the repository.
Blackfoot Cave Site in Douglas County was excavated over an eight-year period by the Denver Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Douglas County government. Colorado State University has conducted field schools in archaeology at the site. Abundant artifacts were discovered which dated from the Early Archaic period to historic times. Blackfoot Cave is unique in that it is the only known site with many Early Archaic artifacts found on the High Plains east of the hogback/foothills area. The site was a frequently visited camp focused on processing of both animal and plant foods as well as manufacture and maintenance of stone tools. Located to the east of the more commonly used hogback/foothills area, Blackfoot Cave appears to have provided its occupants with a refuge from the hot, dry plains during the late Early Archaic period.
There is evidence that prehistoric people occupied the cave and surrounding area from 10,000 years before present (BP) through 1540 AD. Evidence also shows that the cave and surrounding area was occupied by modern tribes from the 1540s through the 1840s. European contact occurred as early as the 1540s by the Spanish Conquistadors.
The cave is also associated with a trail that became known as the Cherokee Trail in the mid-1800s. It is likely that portions of the route were used by prehistoric peoples and modern tribes long before European contact. The Cherokee Trail was an overland route that started in Salina, Kansas and provided connections for those traveling north to the Oregon Trail, or the Santa Fe Trail to the south. Diaries written in the mid-1800s document travelers using the cave for shelter, where they stopped to rest along the way. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners currently owns the property that the Blackfoot cave is located on.
Driving directions will be provided at the registration desk on Saturday, in addition to the necessary waiver forms. You will also need to bring 2 signed waivers:
