The Dillard Site

5MT10647

The Dillard site was named after the current land owner, Jane Dillard, who bought the property from Indian Camp Ranch developer Archie Hanson in 1993.

Habitation with public architecture.

The boundaries of the site follow the extent of artifacts and construction evidence across and down the east and west sides of a north-south trending ridge.

6.1 acres

The surface signature of the site includes a great kiva depression surrounded by six acres of Basketmaker III era midden mixed with sporadic pockets of burned rock and adobe. Remote sensing and testing of the site determined that it is minimally composed of one great kiva, eleven pithouses, and seven storage pit rooms. The great kiva is situated in the center of the site dividing a cluster of six pithouses to the south and another cluster of four pithouses directly to the north. Sections of stockade fence were excavated around the perimeter of these clusters suggesting that groups of pithouses may have been fenced together. At the northern extent of the site is a lone pithouse with an associated midden.

Approximately 6 miles west of Cortez, Colorado, south of County Road K.

Private Property, Indian Camp Ranch Lot 6, Jane Dillard}

2011 through 2014

Approximately three percent of the site area was excavated.

State of Colorado Archaeological Permits were obtained for each field season (2011-2014) to conduct archaeological research.