"Share Colorado's Past" is the theme of this year's Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month’s archaeology double feature at the Chipeta Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society.

The two programs –Saturday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 16 – are free and open to the public.    

The Saturday May 12 program, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Montrose Elks Lodge, pays tribute to two pioneers in archaeology: Carlyle "Squint" Moore and Monte Sanburg. Titled "Pioneers in Archaeology of the Uncompahgre Plateau," it includes presentations from longtime chapter members Chuck Richey, Steve Baker and Bill Harris, all onetime presidents of the Chipeta Chapter.

In addition to honoring the past work of Moore and Sanburg and other amateur and professional archaeologists in this area, current efforts to preserve Indian and historic sites in this area will be discussed, as will suggestions regarding how the public can help with that preservation effort.

The May 12 program, made possible by a grant from the Colorado Historical Society, with support from the Colorado Archaeological Society and the U.S. Department of the Interior, features an illustrated talk by Mark Varien, Ph.D., director of research at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, on two decades of research at Mesa Verde. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Montrose United Methodist Church.