Place Research: Delores, Colorado

The reason we drove all this way in winter was to participate in the National Winter Playwrights' Retreat in Creede, Colorado, and to research the history and culture of the Four Corners area for my play ALBERT PORTER: BOY EXPLORER, which will tour the five-state region with Creede Repertory this fall. Here are some highlights of our research trip to Cortez, Colorado:

Here I am interviewing Crow Canyon Archeological Center Director of Archeology Susan Ryan, PhD. Susan was the lead researcher on the excavation of the Albert Porter Pueblo.

Susan explains the Crow Canyon display on atlatls.

In the curatorial room, we learned about Crow Canyon's project to grow various kinds of corn in much the same way as ancient people have been doing in this area for close to 2,000 years.

Susan describes using a bow drill to start a fire.

Corrugated pottery that contains fingerprints of its ancient maker.

Manos and metate, used for grinding corn into flour.

Sandal made from yucca leaves.