What is PAAC?
A joint program of the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado. The Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC) is a mutually beneficial educational program for avocational and professional archaeologists. Established in 1978 by the Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS) and the Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado (OSAC), it allows CAS members and other citizens to obtain formally recognized levels of expertise outside of an academic degree program. It also facilitates avocational public service and assistance in education, governmental management of cultural resources, research, and the protection of archaeological resources in Colorado. PAAC complements, but does not replace, existing university and governmental training programs. Click here to go to the History Colorado PAAC website.
Requirements of PAAC:
All participants in the PAAC program must:
- Be 15 years of age or older
- Agree to the PAAC Code of Ethics
- Pay a non-refundable, nominal materials fee per course (also sometimes a fee for the meeting room)
Dates for all courses are tentative and subject to change. Please contact your Local Coordinator for details.
List of current PAAC offerings (statewide)
Current Offerings:
Spring 2022 courses will be announced by January 31, 2022 by History Colorado.
Fall 2021
Remote Courses:
Archaeological Practice in Colorado
Archaeological Laboratory Techniques
Research Design and Report Writing
Spring 2021
Remote Courses:
Archaeological Laboratory Techniques
Archaeological Practice in Colorado
Basic Site Survey Techniques
Prehistoric Ceramic Description & Analysis
Fill out this form to register!
If you have any questions about content and structure, please contact Rebecca Simon at rebecca.simon@state.co.us.
Previous Offerings:
Fall 2020
Archaeological Survey Methods
Dates: October – November
Where: Zoom
Prehistoric Lithic Description and Analysis
Dates: October – November
Where: Zoom
Archaeological Laboratory Techniques
Dates: October – November
Where: Google Classroom
Summer 2019
Summer Fieldwork
Dates: July 7-20, 2019 (Fieldwork: July 8-12 & July 15-19)
Where: Lone Mesa State Park, north of Cortez
Spring 2019
Basic Site Surveying Techniques
Dates: In class: April 23, 25, 30, May 7 & 10; Fieldwork: May 4
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Where: Classroom: Boulder Rural Fire Station (6320 Lookout Road, Boulder) || Fieldwork: Walker Ranch (7701 Flagstaff Road, Boulder)
Fall 2017
Colorado Archaeology