Dolores Archaeological Program (DAP)

From 1978 until 1985 the University of Colorado contracted with the Bureau of Reclamation (Contract No. 8-07-40-S0562) to mitigate the adverse impact of a large water impoundment project on the cultural resources in the project area. This complex and evolving long-term mitigation plan known as the Dolores Archaeological Program (DAP) has been called a “truly unique chapter in American archaeology” (Breternitz 1993:118) and was applauded by Lipe (1998:2) for its ability to “increase the power and efficiency of archaeological methods”.

Data and materials from the DAP and other Dolores Project contracts are curated by the Anasazi Heritage Center (AHC) through an agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the President’s Advisory Council. This facility has been an important means of disseminating DAP findings to general public and greater Southwestern archaeological community (Lipe 1998; Sebastian and Lipe 2009).

Since the program’s completion in 1985, the DAP has continued to provide archaeologists with a platform for understanding prehistoric culture change at local and regional levels as well as a model for structuring large-scale archaeological investigations. Recent examples of the DAP’s legacy include Schachner’s (2010) treatment of corporate groups and social differentiation in the context of pithouse-to-pueblo transition ca. A.D. 700 to 900 and Kohler and Reed’s (2011) examination of Pueblo I period village development. The consistency and quality of the DAP database that have enabled it to remain an invaluable research tool even today were made possible by a great deal of forethought and planning in the way archaeological observations were documented (Wilshusen et al. 1999).

The DAP research design was structured to systematically address broad domains of inquiry that encompass economy and adaptation, paleodemography, social organization, extraregional relationships, and cultural processes. Mid-level research designs and supporting studies were employed by task specialists in additive and reductive technologies, environmental archaeology, and survey to address more specific problem domains.

Since field and laboratory research focused on the explanation of cultural process for the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan population of the Dolores River valley, new conventions and terminology was required to describe spatial and temporal variability that was unique to the Dolores data. These sets of archaeological units, or DAP systematics, provide a common frame of reference for the project analytical and field staffs. Due to the specific nature of this system, researchers are encouraged to consult the Final Synthetic Report of the DAP (Breternitz et al. 1986) before attempting to use DAP databases.


Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-100 of 102)

  1. The Dolores Archaeological Program
  2. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-022: A Brief View of Homesteading in the Primary Project Area with a Test Model of the Basic Homesteading Periods (1978)
  3. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-006: Dos Casas Hamlet (Site 5MT2193), In-House Report (1979)
  4. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-054: Historic Research Design (1979)
  5. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-008: Preliminary Report on Excavations at McPhee Pueblo (Site 5MT4475) (1980)
  6. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-009: Preliminary Report on Excavations at Marshview Hamlet (Site 5MT2235) (1980)
  7. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-016: Reductive Technologies Analysis (1980)
  8. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-053: History and Historic Archaeology (1980)
  9. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-061: Environmental Studies Report (1980)
  10. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-002: The Dolores Archaeological Program Research Design (1981)
  11. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-003: The Sagehen Flats Archaeological Locality (1981)
  12. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-004: Excavations at Sheep Skull Camp (Site 5MT2202), a multiple occupation site. (1981)
  13. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-005: Excavations at Sagehill Hamlet (Site 5MT2198), a Basketmaker III/Pueblo I habitation site. (1981)
  14. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-007: Excavations at Little House (Site 5MT2191), a Pueblo I/Pueblo II field house. (1981)
  15. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-010: Grass Mesa Locality Overview (1981)
  16. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-011: The Dolores Archaeological Program Field Manual - 1978 (1981)
  17. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-013: The Dolores Archaeological Program Magnetic Reconnaissance Survey Program: Field Operations (1981)
  18. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-017: 1978 Additive Analysis Report (1981)
  19. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-020: Magnetometer Results (1981)
  20. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-021: An Archaeoastronomical Reconnaissance of the Dolores Archaeological Program Area (1981)
  21. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-025: Excavation at Tres Bobos Hamlet, (Site 5Mt4545), a Basketmaker III Habitation (1981)
  22. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-040: Excavations at Hawk House (Site 5MT4681), an Archaic-Anasazi Limited Activity Site (1981)
  23. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-012: Archaeomagnetic Sampling Program (1982)
  24. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-014: Climatic Reconstruction (1982)
  25. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-015: Laboratory Operations - 1978 (1982)
  26. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-018: Activities of the Faunal Consultant (1982)
  27. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-019: Botanical Studies (1982)
  28. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-024: Prehistoric Archaeology of the Sagehen Flats Locality (1982)
  29. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-026: Excavations at Apricot Hamlet (Site 5Mt2858), a Basket Maker II / Pueblo I Habitation Site (1982)
  30. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-027: Excavations at Pheasant View Hamlet (Site 5Mt2192), a Pueblo I Habitation Site (1982)
  31. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-028: Excavations at Dos Casas Hamlet (Site 5Mt2193), a Basketmaker III / Pueblo I Habitation Site (1982)
  32. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-029: Excavations at Prairie Dog Hamlet (Site 5Mt4614), a Basketmaker III / Pueblo I Habitation Site (1982)
  33. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-030: Excavations at Casa Bodega Hamlet (Site 5Mt2194), a Pueblo I Habitation Site (1982)
  34. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-031: Excavations at Moonlight House (Site 5Mt2205), a Pueblo I Seasonal Use Site (1982)
  35. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-032: Excavations at Casa Roca (Site 5Mt2203), a Pueblo I / Pueblo II Field House (1982)
  36. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-033: Excavations at Faraway House (Site 5Mt4763), a Pueblo I / Pueblo II Limited Activity Site (1982)
  37. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-034: Excavations at Cascade House (Site 5Mt4512), a Pueblo I Field House (1982)
  38. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-035: Excavations at Marsh View (Site 5MT2235), a Pueblo III Habitation Site (1982)
  39. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-037: Excavations at Horse Bone Camp (Site 5MT2199), an Archaic-Anasazi Limited Activity Site (1982)
  40. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-038: Excavations at Horsefly Hamlet (Site 5MT2236), an Archaic Camp / Anasazi Habitation Site (1982)
  41. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-039: Excavations at Ridge Line Camp (5MT2242) an Archaic-Anasazi Limited Activity Site (1982)
  42. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-041: Excavations at Climbing Cactus Camp (Site 5MT4682) (1982)
  43. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-042: Laboratory Operations - 1979 (1982)
  44. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-043: Additive Technologies - 1979 (1982)
  45. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-044: Reductive Technology Laboratory 1979 Report (1982)
  46. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-045: Photography-1979 (1982)
  47. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-046: Activities of the Automated Data Processing Group (1982)
  48. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-047: Botanical Studies - 1979 (1982)
  49. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-048: Faunal Studies-1979 (1982)
  50. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-049: Pollen Analysis - 1979 (1982)
  51. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-050: Geology of the Dolores Project Area (1982)
  52. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-051: Human Remains (1982)
  53. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-052: Archaeomagnetic Dating-1979 (1982)
  54. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-066: 1980 Archaeomagnetic Sampling Program (1982)
  55. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-073: Identifying Food Processing Activities: The Ethnographic Resource Base (1982)
  56. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-075: A Preliminary Projectile Point Analysis for the Dolores Archaeological Project (1982)
  57. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-36.9: Site 5MT2857 (1982)
  58. Additive Technologies Group Midlevel Research Design (1983)
  59. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-036: The 1979 Testing Program (1983)
  60. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-058: Fieldwork and Systematics (1983)
  61. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-060: Reductive Technologies Group Midlevel Research design (1983)
  62. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-062: Preliminary Report, Demonstration and Experimental Garden Studies 1979 and 1980 (1983)
  63. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-063: Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Dolores Archaeological Project: 1978-1980 (1983)
  64. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-067: 1980 Laboratory Report (1983)
  65. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-071: Photography - 1980 (1983)
  66. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-077: Temporal Changes in the Anasazi Food Processing Toolkit (1983)
  67. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-078: Study of Correlation Between Magnetic Reconnaissance and Excavation in the Dolores Archaeological Program (1983)
  68. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-079: Explaining variability among artifact collections (1983)
  69. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-082: Excavations at Prince Hamlet (Site 5MT2161), a Pueblo I habitation site (1983)
  70. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-083: Excavations at LeMoc Shelter (Site 5MT2151), a multiple-occupation Anasazi site (1983)
  71. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-084: Grass Mesa Village (Site 5MT23), Overview and Surface Collection Results: 1979 and 1980 (1983)
  72. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-086: Archaeological Investigations on Grass Mesa: Area 4, 1979 (1983)
  73. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-056: Introduction to 1980 Dolores Archaeological Program Reports (1984)
  74. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-057: The Dolores Project Cultural Resources Mitigation Design (1984)
  75. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-080: Introduction to Field Investigations in the Grass Mesa Locality, 1978-1980 (1984)
  76. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-081: The Grass Mesa Locality Testing Program, 1979-1980 (1984)
  77. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-085: Excavations in Area 3, Grass Mesa Village (Site 5MT23), 1979 and 1980, a Pueblo I habitation (1984)
  78. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-108: Excavations at Windy Wheat Hamlet (Site 5MT4644), a Pueblo I habitation (1984)
  79. Dolores Archaeological Program: Synthetic Report 1978-1981 (1984)
  80. Dolores Archaeological Program: Synthetic Report 1978-1981 (1984)
  81. Botanical Resources: Corn (1985)
  82. Botanical Resources: Pollen (1985)
  83. Chronometric Dating (1985)
  84. Dolores Archaeological Program: Studies in Environmental Archaeology (1985)
  85. Faunal Remains (1985)
  86. Flaked Lithic Debitage (1985)
  87. Flaked Lithic Tools: Temporal-Spatial Dataset (1985)
  88. Geological Study Samples (1985)
  89. Hafted Items (1985)
  90. Macrobotanical Remains (1985)
  91. Maps (1985)
  92. Non-flaked Lithic Tools: Temporal-Spatial Dataset (1985)
  93. Photographs (1985)
  94. Rare Rocks (1985)
  95. Samples (1985)
  96. Dolores Archaeological Program: Final Synthetic Report (1986)
  97. Dolores Archaeological Program: Synthetic Report (1986)
  98. Cottontail Procurement (1987)
  99. Ceramics: Temporal-Spatial Dataset (1988)
  100. Dolores Archaeological Program: Supporting Studies: Additive and Reductive Technologies (1988)