Programs and Field Trips
Next Meeting
Lithophones in Colorado: An ancient musical instrument made of rock
Presenter: Marilyn A. Martorano, Martorano Consultants LLC
For decades, archaeologists working in the San Luis Valley have been perplexed with a head-scratching mystery. They found purposefully shaped stone artifacts, which resemble modern loaves of bread. They originally thought the stones functioned as grinding stones, pestles, or digging tools. Eventually, testing verified their acoustical properties! This new class of prehistoric artifacts is called lithophones. A lithophone is a musical instrument consisting of a purposely selected rock (often shaped) that is tapped to produce musical notes. While lithophones have been utilized in cultures around the world for thousands of years, only a few have been formally recognized in North America and none had been previously documented in Colorado. In her presentation, Marilyn Martorano will address a key question: Where these stone artifacts utilized to play some of the earliest music in the western U.S.? In addition, she will discuss the characteristics of 22 lithophones analyzed as part of a Colorado State Historical Fund archaeological assessment grant. She will bring sample lithophones and demonstrate the ringing, resonating sound of these stones.
About Marilyn A. Martorano
A Registered Professional Archaeologist, has over 40 years of experience in cultural resource management in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Martorano holds a BA from Adams State University and an MA in anthropology from Colorado State University. Her research interests include culturally modified trees (CMTs), the archaeology of early Hispano settlements, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail in the San Luis Valley, and lithophones – the newly identified prehistoric artifact type in Colorado. Martorano has been the recipient of several awards for her work with CMTs, for her work at the Bromley-Koizuma-Hishinuma Farm, for archaeological work on the historic Tarryall National Register of Historic Places rural district nomination, and for her lithophone research at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
Future Programs
October 15, 2024
La Prele Mammoth Site, Wyoming
Excavations have revealed a prehistoric campsite, mammoth butchering site, and a variety of artifacts, including North America’s oldest-known bone bead.
Dr. Todd Surovell, Director of the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and Professor of Archaeology, University of Wyoming
November 19, 2024
The Bunker Site: Preliminary Results of Archaeological Testing
This Old Spanish Trail Campsite Reveals Tantalizing, Subsurface Prehistoric Components
Presented by Price Heiner, Forest Archaeologist for the Rio Grande National Forest
In 2022 Rio Grande National Forest archaeologists and volunteers excavated three 1×1 meter shovel tests to explore the geomorphology, geoarchaeology, depositional context, and occupational history at the Bunker Site (5SH.614). This archaeological site is known as a world-class example of an Old Spanish Trail campsite or paraje from the 19th century, but the subsurface and prehistoric components at the site have not had as much attention. Therefore, the preliminary testing conducted in 2022 focused on the subsurface components of the site and revealed some tantalizing results. Price Heiner’s talk will briefly discuss the archaeology and artifacts of the Old Spanish Trail campsite, with a focus on the subsurface testing results, artifacts, and suggestions for future research.
Price Heiner is the Forest Archaeologist for the Rio Grande National Forest. He has worked as a professional archaeologist for 23 years, including 15 years with the US Forest Service. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Colorado State University and a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming. His research interests include hunter-gatherer ecology, lithic technological organization, projectile point typology, geoarchaeology, and broad landscape use studies.
December 2024 – No meeting
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Fire Station 19
2490 Research Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920
Future Field Trips
Sept. 20-23
Salinas Missions, New Mexeco
Gary Conover will lead a trip to the Salinas Missions in New Mexico.
Members only.
Oct. 4-5
Price Heiner, who led our fantastic outing last October to La Cueva, will take us to the Upper Crossing Guard Station, Dry Creek, and possibly Mt. Peat in the San Luis Valley.
Members only
TBD
Trip to the University of Colorado Museum in Boulder.
Members only
