Archeological Research Institute

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3005 Cave Hollow Way, Bountiful, Utah 84010
Phone: 801.292.7061
Fax: 801.292.9668

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Be involved in investigating North America's past with our professional archaeologists.

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     ARI field programs offer hands-on participation in excavations at the sites of Second Look, KibRidge-Yampa, La Posada and Dust Devil Gorge. Enjoy the   spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountain West while uncovering the remnants of ancient Indian cultures.

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         Join ARI archaeologists in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado as we investigate prehistoric Indian occupations as old as 11,000 years.

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    The Archeological Research Institute is committed to excellence in research and educational programs. Our staff welcomes any comments or questions regarding the programs offered or personal research interests.

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  ARI’s  Current Research Projects (winter 2002-2003):

  1. ARI is working in conjunction with the Grand Junction Field Office (BLM) and the Colorado National Monument (Park Service) relative to a GIS analysis of the139,000 acre Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area (CCNCA) of western Colorado and eastern Utah.  That grant was awarded in September 2002.  Data acquisition from the federal and state offices commenced in October 2002.  Information on approximately 600 archaeological sites within that project area is being incorporated into ArcView format relative to the preparation of an analytical report that will facilitate the federal government’s management of this program and the resources within the project area.  The final report will be available during the spring of 2003.
  2. ARI has recently recorded the “Clock” site (5MF5241), which is also known as the Crooked Creek Sky House because of the presence of an astronomical observatory platform on the site.  This important site was initially identified by Glade Hadden (formerly a BLM archaeologist in the White River Field Office) and William Lawrence, an attorney residing in Craig.  F.R. Hauck was taken into the site by Bill Lawrence on 11/21/02 for the initial documentation of this important resource.   The “Clock” site includes a massive sandstone monolith that displays drilled holes in two separate formats on the north-facing vertical plane of the slab.  These two sets include a circular set of 16 holes, each hole containing a rounded stone, which was probably used for counting days; this circle of holes resembles a giant clock.  The second set of holes consists of four drilled holes arranged in a curvilinear display across the upper periphery of the monolith.  Directly above the monolithic “Clock”, on the top of the adjacent ridge, is the observation platform where a variety of drilled holes identify the sighting points for gnomon positions relative to ancient alignments on horizon rise/set positions for various celestial bodies.  Although ARI has been researching similar drilled  hole astronomical observation platforms on the Colorado Plateau since 1990, this is the first site containing a solar cycle tabulation feature (the “Clock”) allowing us to identify the methods used anciently for calculating the passage of time in association with the development of a local calendar.  ARI is planning further research at this site in the spring and summer months of 2003. 

 

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Snail mail may be sent to:

ARI
P.O. Box 853
Bountiful, Utah 84011-0853

Interesting archaeological links:

Archnet - Contains an index of archaeological resources available on the Internet.

SWA - Contains a list of links regarding Southwestern archaeology.

Links List - A list of Federal, National, Regional and State archaeology related links.

Archaeology Resources - Contains links to numerous sites. Includes journals and Old World sites.

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