There were more than 56,500 recorded prehistoric sites in Colorado by 1996.[1] Important historic and archaeological sites are registered nationally with the National Register of Historic Places (National register) and within the state's Colorado State Register of Historic Properties (State register). Most of the sites below are registered in one more both registers and was the source for most of the information for this section:[2] [3] __TOC__
| Site | County | Period | Date range | Site type | Cultures | Historic register | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Albert Porter Pueblo (Site ID 5MT.123) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | AD late 12th century - early 13th century | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | |
| 27 | Anasazi Heritage Center (Site ID 5MT.6599) | Montezuma, near Dolores | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1120–1200 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 16 | Ansel Hall Ruin (5DL.27) | Dolores, near Cahone | Ancient Pueblo | Residential | Northern San Juan | National, State | ||
| 91 | Apishapa River area sites | Otero, near Fowler | Plains village | AD 1000–1350 | Residential | Sites include: Cramer, Canterbury, Snake Blakeslee, Juan Baca, Munsell. | ||
| 56 | Barger Gulch Locality B | Grand, near Kremmling | Early Paleo-Indian | 14,999 - 9000 BC | Camp | National | Not listed on the State Register site. | |
| 36 | Bass site (Site ID 5MT.136) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | AD late 12th century - early 13th century | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit | |
| 78 | Bayou Gulch | Douglas, near Parker | Early Archaic-Protohistoric | BC - AD | Campsite | McKean complex | ||
| 84 | Bellwood site | Pueblo, near Colorado City | Plains Woodland | AD 395–505 | Residential | Bellwood type site, Graneros phase, Arkansas River basin. | ||
| 30 | Bement site (Site ID 5MT.4388) | Montezuma, near Mancos | Ancient Pueblo | AD 750 - 850 AD 1000–1150 | Residential | State | ||
| 7 | Bloomfield Site (Site ID SME395) | Mesa, near Whitewater | Archaic | 8999 BC - AD 1799 | Extractive | National, State | ||
| 73 | Bradford House II (Site ID 5JF51) | Jefferson, near Littleton | Archaic, Prehistoric | 499 BC - 1749 AD | Residential | National, State | The state register reports occupancy from 3000 BC - AD 1540. | |
| 74 | Bradford House III (Site ID 5JF52) | Jefferson, near Morrison | Archaic, Plains Woodland | 4999 BC - AD 1000 | Village | National, State | From the State register, at least five occupations (2 Archaic periods, 3 Plains Woodland). | |
| 17 | Brewer Archaeological District (Site ID 5DL.578) | Dolores, near Dove Creek | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1000–1300 | Residential | State | ||
| 83 | Calhan Paint Mines Archeological District (Site ID 5EP.3258) | El Paso, near Calhan | Archaic to prehistoric | 499 BC - AD 1900 | Campsite | National, State | The State register shows historical significance starting about 8100 BC. | |
| 3 | Cañon Pintado (Site ID 5RB.984) | Rio Blanco, near Rangely | Plains, prehistoric | 500 - 1899 AD | Campsite, Rock art | Fremont, Ute | National, State | Visited by Dominguez-Escalante Expedition in 1776. |
| 28 | Montezuma and Dolores counties | Paleo-Indian, Basket Makers, Ancient Pueblo | 6000 BC - AD mid- 12th century | Campsite, residential | National, State | Lowry Pueblo, Sand Canyon Pueblo and Roy's Ruin | ||
| 48 | Carnero Creek Pictographs Historical Site (La Garita) (Site ID 5SH.48) | Saguache, near La Garita | Prehistoric | AD 1000–1749 | Rock Art | National, State | Also a National Significant Archaeological Site. | |
| 4 | Carrot Men Pictograph Site (Site ID AR-05-101-98) | Rio Blanco, near Rangely | Prehistoric | 500 - 1499 AD | Campsite | National, State | ||
| 1 | Castle Park Archeological District (Site ID 5MF.5803) | Moffat, near Dinosaur | Prehistoric | 1500 - 1000 BC AD 1000–1899 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 81 | Elbert, near Limon | Residential | ||||||
| 49 | Chance Gulch Site (Site ID 5GN.817) | Gunnison, near Gunnison | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Prehistoric | 10,999 - 9000 BC 5500 - 6499 BC AD 0 - 499 | Campsite | National, State | ||
| 47 | Chimney Rock National Monument (Site ID 5AA.985) | Archuleta | Ancient Pueblo | AD 0 - 1500 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 93 | Claypool (Site ID 5WL18) | Washington, near Otis | Paleo-Indian | 8000 - 5000 BC | The location is about 4 mi. e. and 19 mi. s. of Otis. | |||
| 5 | Collage Shelter Site (Site ID 5 RB820) | Rio Blanco, near Rangely | Prehistoric | 500 AD - 1499 AD | Campsite | Fremont | National | |
| 86 | Colorado Millennial Site (Site ID 5LA1115) | Las Animas, near Ruxton; Baca | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, Prehistoric | 7000 BC - AD 1900 | Camp, village, rock art | National, State | Sites: Hackberry Springs and Bloody Springs. | |
| 11 | Cottonwood Cave (Site ID 5MN.519) | 270 BC | Residential | State | Large rock shelter, with the earliest finding of corn in Colorado. | |||
| 18 | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1150–1175 | Residential | ||||
| 19 | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | Before AD 1300 | Residential | ||||
| 50 | Curecanti Archeological District (Site ID 5GN.1728) | Gunnison, near Gunnison | Archaic | 10,999 BC - AD 1749 | Village | National, State | Many 5GN--- Site IDs. | |
| 43 | Darkmold Site (Site ID 5LP.4991) | La Plata, near Durango | Archaic, Basket maker | 220 BC - AD 750 | Campsite, residential | State | ||
| 66 | Weld, near Milliken | Paleo-Indian | 9200 BC | Kill site | Clovis | |||
| 94 | Dipper Gap (Site ID 5LO101) | Logan, near Stoneham (about 30 m. nne.) | Middle to late Archaic | BC | Campsite and residential | McKean complex | ||
| 14 | Pre-Pueblo, Ancient Pueblo, prehistoric | 600 BC to AD 1400 | Residential | State | ||||
| 44 | Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site (Site ID 5LP4134) | La Plata, near Durango | Basket maker | AD 0 - 1000 | Campsite | National, State | ||
| 9 | Ferganchick Orchard Rock Art Site (5DT.355) | Delta, near Austin | Western Archaic, prehistoric | AD 0 - 1799 | Work of Art | Uncompahgre Complex, Ute | National, State | |
| 58 | Fourth of July Valley (Site ID 5BL120) | Grand, near Tabernash | Paleo-Indian, Archaic | 7000 - 4000 BC | Campsite, kill site, possibly residential | James Allen, McKean cultures | ||
| 67 | Fowlers Parrish (Site ID 5WL100) | Weld, near Orchard | Paleo-Indian | Bison kill and maybe butchery site | Folsom culture | |||
| 76 | Franktown Cave (Site ID 5DA.272) | Douglas, near Franktown | Archaic, Ceramic, and Protohistoric | 6400 BC - AD 1725 | Campsite, Residential | National, State | ||
| 6 | Fremont Lookout Fortification Site (Site ID AR-05-101-99) | Rio Blanco, near Rangely | Prehistoric | 0 - 1499 AD | Campsite, fortification. | Fremont | National, State | |
| 61 | Hatch site (Site ID 5WL38) | Weld | Agate Bluff site | |||||
| 20 | Hawkins Preserve | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1000–1150 | Residential, Rock art | |||
| 79 | Helmer Ranch | Douglas, near Waterton | Early Archaic | Campsite | ||||
| 21 | Hovenweep National Monument (Site ID 5MT.604) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | 8000 BC - AD 1350 | Residential, Rock art, Solar calendar | National, State | ||
| 70a | Hungry Whistler Site (Site ID 5BL67) | Boulder, near Ward | Archaic | Kill and butchery site | Mount Albion | On the slopes of Mount Albion. | ||
| 85 | Indian Petroglyphs and Pictographs (Site ID 5PE.14) | Pueblo, near Penrose | Prehistoric | AD 1000–1499 | Rock Art | Ute | National, State | In Turkey Creek Canyon. |
| 32 | James A. Lancaster Site (Site ID 5MT.4803) | Montezuma, near Pleasant View | Ancient Pueblo | Residential | National, State | Also called Clawson Ruin. McElmo Drainage Unit. | ||
| 37 | Joe Ben Wheat Site Complex (Site ID 5MT.16722) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1075–1300 | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | |
| 95 | Yuma | Paleo-Indian | 8000 - 8050 BC | Bison kill and butchery | ||||
| 65 | Jurgens Site (Site ID 5WL 53) | Weld, near Kersey | Paleo-Indian | 7150 BC | Bison butchery, campsite, residential | National, State | ||
| 60 | Kaplan-Hoover Site (Site ID 5LR3953) | Larimer, near Windsor | Archaic | 999 - 500 BC | Kill and butchery site | National, State | One of the largest communal kill sites, used seasonally. | |
| 63 | Keota Stone Circles Archaeological District (Site ID 5WL.662) | Weld, near Keota | Paleo-Indian through prehistoric | 6999 BC - AD 1799 | Campsite, village | National, State | Also known as D. J. Shull Tipi Ring Sites. | |
| 72 | Ken-Caryl South Valley Archaeological District (Site ID 5JF.2758) | Jefferson, near Indian Hills | 3000 BC - 1000 AD | Campsites, residential, multi-sites | ||||
| 77 | Lamb Spring (Site ID 5DA.83) | Douglas, near Littleton | Paleo-Indian | 11,000 - 6500 BC | Campsite | Cody complex, others | National, State | |
| 8 | Land's End Aboriginal Site (Site ID 5ME.1057) | Mesa, near Whitewater | Archaic | State | ||||
| 59 | Lindenmeier site (Site ID 5LR.13) | Larimer, near Fort Collins | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, prehistoric | 8600 - 8720 BC | Campsite, residential | Folsom | National, State | |
| 75 | LoDaisKa site (Site ID 5JF.142) | Jefferson, near Morrison | Archaic, Ceramic (woodland periods) | 3000 BC - AD 1000 | Campsite, residential | National, State | ||
| 31 | Lost Canyon Archeological District (Site ID 5MT.10435) | Montezuma, near Mancos | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1050–1300 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 71 | Magic Mountain site (Site ID 5JF223) | Jefferson, near Golden | Archaic, woodland | 4999 BC - AD 1000 | Campsite, residential | National, State | ||
| 2 | Mantle's Cave (Site ID 5MF1) | Moffat, near Dinosaur | Prehistoric | 499 BC - AD 1749 | Residential, Rock art \ Petroglyph | National, State | ||
| 22 | McElmo Drainage Unit (many Site IDs) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1075–1300 | Pueblo | National, State | Cannonball Ruins, Roy's Ruin, Sand Canyon, Wallace Ruins and other sites. | |
| 23 | Mesa Verde National Park (Site ID 5MT.9790) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 550–1300 | Residential, Rock art | National, State | ||
| 24 | Mitchell Springs Archeological Site (Site ID 5MT.10991) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 500–1000 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 70 | Mount Albion | Boulder or Grand County | ||||||
| 25 | Mud Springs Pueblo (Site ID 5MT.4466) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1000–1499 | Residential | National, State | Also called Toltec Springs. | |
| 29 | O'Brien Site (Site ID 5MT.5518) | Montezuma, near Dolores | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1075–1150 | Residential | State | ||
| Cheyenne, near Firstview | Paleo-Indian, Plains | 8000-6500 B.C. | Kill site | |||||
| 57 | Grand, near Parshall | Paleo-Indian | Campsite | |||||
| Baca | Paleo-Indian, Plains Archaic, Plains Woodland, Apishapa culture | Campsite, residential, rock art, solar calendar | ||||||
| 89 | Las Animas, near Trinidad | Rock art | Over 50 structure sites, including La Placita. | |||||
| 33 | Pigge Site (Site ID 5MT.4802) | Montezuma, near Pleasant View | Ancient Pueblo | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | ||
| 54 | Porcupine Peak Site (Site ID 5ST98) | Summit, near Dillon | Paleo-Indian, prehistoric | 6999 BC - 1499 AD | Village | National, State | ||
| 64 | Powars (Site ID 5WL1369) | Weld, near Kersey | Paleo-Indian | Campsite | Folsom | Near the Kersey site, i.e., Jurgens Site. | ||
| 34 | Puzzle House (Site ID 5MT.11787) | Montezuma, near Pleasant View | Pre-Pueblo, Ancient Pueblo | AD 650 and twice between AD 1075-1225. | Residential | State | ||
| 69 | Rock Creek Site (Site ID 5BL2712) | Boulder, near Boulder | Archaic, Ceramic | 5500-3300 BC, AD 1-1550 | Multi-component | State | ||
| 80 | Roxborough State Park Archaeological District (Site ID 5DA.343) | Douglas, near Waterton | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, woodland | 4999 BC - AD 1000 | Campsite, residential | National, State | ||
| 38 | Seven Towers Pueblo (Site ID 5MT.1000) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1150–1300 | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | |
| 10 | Savano Valley Rock Art Site (Site ID 5MN.5) | Archaic, Protohistoric | 1000 BC - AD 1881 | Work of Art | State | |||
| 82 | Smiley Rock shelter | Elbert, near Limon | Residential | Upper Republican | ||||
| 42 | Spring Creek Archeological District (Site ID 5LP.1254) | La Plata, near Bayfield | Basket maker, Ancient Pueblo, prehistoric | 499 BC - AD 1824 | Village | Athabascan, Ute. | National, State | |
| 12 | Tabeguache Cave (Site ID 5MN.868) | Residential | State | |||||
| 15 | Tabeguache Cave II (Site ID 5MN.890) | Pre-Pueblo, Ancient Pueblo, prehistoric | AD 600–1500 | Residential | State | |||
| 13 | Tabeguache Pueblo (Site ID 5MN.1609) | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1100 | Residential | State | |||
| 45 | Talus Village (Site ID 5LP.4223) | La Plata, near Durango | Basket maker | Residential | State | |||
| 51 | Tenderfoot Archaeological Site (Site ID 5GN.1835) | Gunnison, near Gunnison | Prehistoric | State | ||||
| 90 | Torres Cave Archeological Site (Site ID 5AL1310) | Las Animas, near Villegreen | Woodland | AD 1 - 1500 | Campsite | Apishapa, Granersos, Panhandle | National, State | |
| 88 | Trinchera Cave Archeological District (Site ID 5LA9555) | Las Animas, near Trinchera | 499 BC - AD 1749 | Campsite, residential | National, State | |||
| 52 | Unnamed site (Site ID 5EA484) | Eagle, near Basalt | Archaic, Prehistoric | AD 1000–1499 | Campsite | Ute | National, State | |
| 41 | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | |||
| 87 | Unnamed Sopris phase sites 5LA121, 5LA1416 | Las Animas, near Segundo | Plains village | AD 1000 - 1225+ | Residential | |||
| 46 | Ute Mountain Ute Mancos Canyon Historic District (Site ID 5MT.4342) | La Plata, near Red Mesa and Montezuma | Ancient Pueblo | AD 500–1499 | Residential | National, State | ||
| 92 | Vogel Canyon (Site ID 5OT.551) | Otero, near La Junta | Prehistoric | State | ||||
| 68 | West Stoneham Archeological District (Site ID 5WL.2180) | Weld, near Stoneham | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, prehistoric | 6999 BC - AD 1749 | Camp, Residential | National, State | ||
| 62 | Wilbur Thomas Shelter (Site ID 5WL45) | Weld, near Carr | Archaic, Woodland (ceramic) | McKean complex | ||||
| 55 | Windy Gap Archaeological site (Site ID 5GA151) | Grand, near Granby | Early Archaic | |||||
| 39 | Woods Canyon Pueblo (Site ID 5MT.11842) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | AD 13th century | Residential | National, State | ||
| 53 | Yarmony House (Site ID 5EA799) | Eagle, near Radium | Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Ceramic | 6499 - 1000 BC | Residential | Mount Albion complex, Archaic, Pinto, late prehistoric | National, State | At least 5 periods of occupation. |
| 40 | Yellowjacket Pueblo (Site ID 5MT.5) | Montezuma, near Yellow Jacket | Ancient Pueblo | Residential | National, State | McElmo Drainage Unit. | ||
| 26 | Yucca House National Monument (Site ID 5MT.5006) | Montezuma, near Cortez | Ancient Pueblo | AD 1100–1300 | Residential | National, State | ||