Events and Exhibits
The Center Museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,and every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Admission to the Museum is free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person and $5 per family .
 May 1, 2008 Thursday to August 1, 2008 Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At: San Diego Archaeological Center off-site programs available |
Project Archaeology Call now to schedule The San Diego Archaeological Center’s Education Department is now scheduling Project Archaeology Programs for Summer 2008. The Center’s provides archaeology-based learning experiences based on the nationally renowned curriculum, Intrigue of the Past to fulfill multidisciplinary state education standards. The lessons employ actual artifacts and your student’s imagination to hone critical thinking skills in a fun and challenging environment. Project Archaeology uses the basic concepts of real field archaeology using newly constructed dig boxes where a child can discover a variety of artifacts from ancient stone tools as well as historical items. The Center has provided Project Archaeology programs to over 7,000 students in the past two years for public, private, charter, magnet, Montessori, GATE, AVID, and home schooled students. Center Program Coordinator Annemarie Cox is a trained provider of the program and has been honored for her outreach efforts by the Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Professional and informal educators will enjoy utilizing this program while fulfilling their education plans and content standards in the remaining school year. Scout leaders, museum and historic house docents, nature trail guides and earth science educators are also encouraged to schedule field trips to the Center. Off-site visits can also be arranged. The Center curates over 4,750 boxes archaeological artifacts and associated documents representing over 625 archaeological sites—and the collections continue to grow. The collections document 10,000 years of the region’s cultural history and relate to the cultural diversity that still exists in Southern California. |
 May 10, 2008 Saturday 11:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m. |
An Introduction to Arbor Glyphs Secrets of the American West If you have never heard of aspen tree carvings, you are not alone. These carvings are spread across the landscapes of ten or more states, including California’s High Sierra, yet most people have never heard of them. The San Diego Archaeological Center presents Judy Berryman, archaeologist and historian, as the Center’s Visiting Scholar for May 10, 2008. Dr.Berryman will share information regarding the arbor glyphs and their significance in providing a slice of localized history. Bits and pieces of a century of sheepherding tradition in the American West are recorded on these trees. A few go back to the 1890’s and beyond. The aspens stand witness of the ranchers and Basque immigrants from Europe that passed through Riverside and other areas to the north and recorded their lives, loves, and dreams. In addition to the glyphs, archaeological remains include bread ovens, camp sites, and historic trails. Warning, while most of the carvings are names, dates and narrative sentences, some carvings depict human anatomy; please consider this when attending the lecture. |
| May 17, 2008 Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail |
Mission Trails Regional Park Discovery Day Look for the San Diego Archaeological Center table in the activites area. Mission Trails staff and docents along with other local organizations will be hosting fun, interactive and educational activities and games for children as they learn about San Diego's natural resources and environment. Bring your friends and family for lots of fun at Mission Trails Regional Park. |
 May 31, 2008 Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
Member/Volunteer Appreciation Day Ice Cream Social Calling all members and volunteers, especially those who have not visited the Center in some time. Join us for an ice cream social open house to thank the many members and volunteers who support the Center. |
| June 14, 2008 Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p. m. |
Adobe Dreams with Pat Friend Archaeology Day at the San Diego Archaeological Center The San Diego Archaeological Center is pleased to announce the return of Pat Friend and Adobe Dreams. Sponsored in part by San Dieguito River Park Have you ever made a brick? Adobe brick, one of the earliest building materials in the Southwest, is still used today to teach children the importance of the natural world around them. Nearly 1500 years ago, residents of what is now San Diego County began utilizing this resource to provide shelter--- a basic human need. A number of historical adobe buildings still exist. Now visitors of all ages can participate in this hands-on activity and learn about how this simple process can form the basis of complex architecture. Families are encouraged to attend for a fun, educational, hands-on event. Pat Friend, a member of the Tigua tribe will teach participants about this material and its role in the early California Period architecture. This program ties together history, earth science and art and involves a lively hands-on participation of Real Adobe Brick making and adobe construction methods. Please dress appropriately, mud on the menu. Center members will enjoy this event at no charge. There will be a cost of $15 for non-members, with a maximum $30 charge for a family. Reservations are required. Please reserve your space early; deadline is June 10, 2008. |
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Exhibits
Currently on exhibit at the Center:
An Introduction to Archaeology
and the Archaeology of San Diego
The San Diego Archaeological Center will debut a new exhibit that provides viewers with a greater understanding of the tools, processes and research involved in the field of archaeology. Specifically, the archaeology of the San Diego region from 10,000 years ago to present day.
Gallery guides to extend the learning experience are available.
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Pottery: Earth, Water Fire & Air
The strikingly beautiful Kumeyaay ollas on display from Cleveland National Forest provide a backdrop for a discussion on pottery in the archaeological record. The Center is a nationally recognized curation facility that curates federal collections, including the National Forest Service, Department of the Interior.
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Shells Tell a Story
Shells give archaeologists important clues about the past. Shellfish were common food items throughout all periods of prehistory. The shells were discarded in heaped piles, called middens. The shell middens provide information about the environment at the time when people were collecting and eating shellfish and how they were processed. Utilizing the Center's archaeological collections, teaching collections and comparative shell collection, this exhibit provides information on local species and encourages further exploration in the nearby hands-on Research Station.
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Children at Play- Remnants of Childhood in the Archaeological Record
The lives of children are an important part of San Diego's history.
Toys, dolls, games and household items in the archaeological record provide clues to understanding the every day lives of children across time.
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Excellence in Archaeology
The winning projects from the 1st Annual Excellence in Archaeology Celebration and Awards Ceremony are presented in an exhibit that honors collections curated at the center that represent Excellence in Education, Cultural Heritage and Scientific Research.
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Artifact Wall - A graphic depiction of artifacts
in the Center's prehistoric and historic collections.
The Research Station allows young visitors to access activities