Calhan Paint Mines Archeological District, Archaeological park in El Paso County, Colorado, US
Calhan Paint Mines is a 750-acre protected area in Colorado featuring bands of colored clay, towering sandstone formations, and natural rock spires carved by erosion. Visitors can explore these geological structures on marked trails with interpretive signs throughout the landscape.
Archaeological remains show continuous human occupation here for 9,000 years, with artifacts from the Apishapa, Cody, and Duncan cultures uncovered across the site. This long timeline demonstrates how different peoples relied on the area's mineral resources over many centuries.
Ancestral Puebloans mined clay and minerals from this site to craft pottery and create pigments for ceremonial work. The practice shaped how indigenous groups connected to this landscape through generations of artistic tradition.
The site has four miles of walking paths with interpretive markers, climbing up to 500 feet in elevation. Bring plenty of water since there are no facilities or water sources available on the grounds.
The clay layers display natural color bands created by oxidized iron compounds and jasper deposits, giving the formations their distinctive appearance. This geological feature is likely why ancient peoples specifically chose this location for mining their materials.
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