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 2023
Site Stewardship Workshop: This one-day workshop provides an introduction to archaeological advocacy through site stewardship. Participants will learn about the principal mission of preservation and primary activities of a site steward including the observation, documentation and reporting of the condition of cultural resources in Colorado. This course is being offered in collaboration with South Park Site Stewards.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BY OCTOBER 28
Hybrid: In-Person in Denver, CO & offered synchronously online
Saturday, October 28, 2023
10 am – 4 pm MDT
State & National Register Nomination Workshop: This one-day workshop will walk participants through the process of preparing nominations for the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and the National Register of Historic Places. In the morning session, participants will learn about the State and National Registers and how to evaluate the eligibility of archaeological resources for nomination. In the afternoon, participants will practice their new skills hands-on with a mock-archaeological site and learn how to write up parts of a nomination. This course is being offered in collaboration with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 9
Hybrid: In-Person in Denver, CO & offered synchronously online*
Saturday, November 18, 2023
9 am – 4 pm MST
Standing
Local CAS Seminar Lectures: Attend a CAS seminar lecture and receive PAAC credit! To learn more about upcoming CAS seminar lectures in your area, visit the Colorado Archaeological Society or connect with your Local PAAC Coordinator. To receive credit for attending a CAS seminar lecture, participants must submit the CAS Seminar Lecture form online within two weeks of the date of the lecture.
Receive Credit: Fill out a CAS Seminar Lecture form!
If you have any questions about content and structure, please contact Sarah Allaun at sarah.allaun@state.co.us.