Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC)
The Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC) is a mutually beneficial educational program for avocational and professional archaeologists. Established in 1978 by the Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS) and the Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado (OSAC), it allows CAS members and other citizens to obtain formally recognized levels of expertise outside of an academic degree program. Please see the Commonly Asked Questions section for answers concerning enrollment, cost and locations.
Current PAAC Event Schedule – https://www.historycolorado.org/paac-event-schedule.
For more information and class descriptions, visit the History Colorado PAAC website.
For more information about PAAC, please contact Betsy Moore, SJBAS Education Chair.
New PAAC Lecture Series!
Exposing Hoaxes, Busting Myths, & Solving Mysteries
Archaeology helps us answer the mysteries of the past. But what about those mysteries that sound too good to be true? Is there evidence that giants existed? Are Archaeologists hiding information about ancient aliens? Did the Vikings visit El Paso County? Dr. Ken Feder, Professor Emeritus at Central Connecticut State University, will address all of those questions and more in this ten-part lecture series!
The lectures are roughly an hour each, and can be watched in any order or alone, but the recommended viewing sequence is:
- How do you know? The science of Archaeology
- How to pull off a sort of successful archaeological hoax: the sordid, but silly tale of the Cardiff Giant
- Piltdown Man in evolutionary and historical context
- Etched in stone
- Turn and face the strange: sacred chambers and sacrificial tables in New England and New York
- Mystery of the mounds
- Hail Atlantis!
- The fantasy of the astronauts
- Sheep, spirits, exploding stars, and massacres. Oh, and pterodactyls. Reading the rock art of North America.
- Archaeological follies
You do not need to register to view this lecture series, and at this time there is no “credit” for taking this class. This is the first of a new lecture series that PAAC will offer to increase public engagement with our program and with our discipline.
Exposing Hoaxes, Busting Myths, & Solving Mysteries is available online on History Colorado’s YouTube page now! Tell your friends and family and go check it out!