Eagle Rockshelter and 13,000 Years of Living Well on the Western Slope.

Along with the Telluride Institute, the Telluride Historical Museum is co-hosting retired BLM archaeologist Glade Hadden of Delta, Colorado. Hadden uncovered the Eagle Rockshelter on the Gunnison River in Delta County, the oldest archaeological site in Colorado. The site uncovered artifacts to demonstrate near-continuous indigenous habitation of the Western Slope for 130 centuries.

Dr. Glade Hadden has been a professional archaeologist for over 30 years, and has worked throughout the West and his personal space (also known as the Colorado Plateau). Glade moved to the Montrose area in 2006 and worked as the BLM’s Uncompahgre Plateau Field Office archaeologist, from which he retired in April of 2018.  Glade and his wife Susan are currently building their retirement home in the Paradox Valley.

Eagle Rock shelter, located in the northern end of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area some 12miles east of Delta, is the oldest human occupation in Colorado and one of the oldest known stratified occupation sites in North America.  This presentation will celebrate 13,000 years of living well on the Western Slope.