The Colorado Desert Archaeology Society
8th Annual Archaeology Weekend

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center
Borrego Springs, California

A Tribute to Bob Begole (1919 - 2010)

Bob Begole, Mr. Archaeology of the Anza-Borrego Desert region, spent over three decades recording more than 3,000 cultural sites in the Park as a professionally accredited volunteer archaeologist. Bob began to locate and record sites in 1955, with a special interest in “Early Man.” He served for years on the Anza-Borrego Foundation Acquisitions Committee. The Begole Archaeological Research Center, which houses the Colorado Desert Districts archaeology staff and provides archival facilities, including his extensive collection of artifacts, was built as a result of his $500,000 donation. Bob also funded an endowment which provides $10,000 annually to support archaeological research in the region.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Events

9:00 - 4:30 - Silent Auction at the Begole Archaeological Research Center. Bidding closes 4:30 pm. Winning bids announced 5:00 pm. (Winners need not be present)

9:00 - 4:00 - Native American Basket and Pottery Display and Demonstrations. Craft items will be for sale.

9:30 - 4 - Tours of the Archaeology Lab: Groups depart from front door of ABDSP Visitor Center approximately every half hour.

9:30 - 3:00 - Kids' Activities: Fun table with archaeology crafts and games.

10:00 - 3:00 - Display: Desert Plant Use by Native Americans: food, clothing, & medicine. By ABDSP Volunteer Naturalist, Marge Hatcher

10:00 - 12:00 - Pottery Making Demonstration - includes clay grinding and paddle & anvil construction techniques. (Clay will be available for spectator participation) By Archaeology volunteer, Carol Black

3:00 - 5:30 - Free Ice Cream Social: Announcement of silent auction winning bids at 5:00. Meet at Begole Archaeological Research Center

Lectures

10:00 - 11:00 - A tribute to Bob Begole (1919-2010), an Archaeologist that recorded over 3,000 sites during 35 years of work in the Anza-Borrego Desert region, with an update on the late Pleistocene (Malpais pattern) archaeological hypothesis that Bob Begole subscribed to and searched for the evidence of during his long career.

11:00 - 12:00 - Early Man in the Southern Deserts, by Tim Gross, Professor of Archaeology at the University of San Diego

1:00 – 2:00 - Sourcing the Stone: The Southern California Soapstone chemical Sources Characterization and Stone Bead Provenience Project - This lecture will present the results of the southern California LA-ICP-MS soapstone chemical source characterization and artifact provenience project. Several years of field and lab analysis have analysis have resulted in the development of a soapstone sourcing methodology that can successfully distinguish soapstone from the three major southern California source locations: 1) Catalina Island, 2) Los Angeles (Sierra Pelona), 3) San Diego. By: Begole Grant Recipient – John Eddy, Associate Archaeologist/GIS Applied EarthWorks.

2:30 – 3:30 - Ceramic Compositional Studies in the Anza-Borrego Desert, 200-2010 - Compositional studies have helped us to recognize variability in pottery from desert sites and to better understand pottery making traditions and circulation in the San Diego region. This presentation will provide an overview of results from studies carried out by Begole Grant recipients Dr. Patrick Quinn (University of Sheffield, UK) and Dr. Margie Burton. By: Dr. Margie Burton, Research Director, San Diego Archaeological Center.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Field Trips

Pre-registration and $5.00 fee required for all field trips. For reservations call ABF at 760-767-4063. During Archaeology Weekend, check for last-minute field trip openings at the ABF table in front of the Visitor's Center.

10:00 - 12:30 - Yaqui Pass Rock Cairn Alignment, led by CDAS Archaeology Volunteers Deborah Corbett and Stan Rohrer. Visit one of Bob Begole's favorite site types, lines of rock cairns, and then visit a comparative feature of modern times. (Both sites are in the Yaqui Pass area.) This area is very photogenic, so bring your cameras! Both sites require short hikes that are fairly steep. Participants should be sure-footed and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Parking may be challenging, so be prepared to carpool from the Visitor Center; all vehicles OK. Bring a hat or other sun protection, water and your sharp eyes. Pre-registration and $5.00 fee required. To sign up call ABF at 760-767-4063. More trip details here.

10:00 - 2:00 - Blair Valley Morteros & Yoni Site, led by CDAS Archaeology Volunteer Lloyd Richard, Chair Colorado Desert Archaeology Society. This field trip will begin with a 10:00 AM PowerPoint presentation at the Visitor Center titled: Yonis: Fact or Fiction. After the lecture we will drive 40 miles to the Morteros Indian Village site in Little Blair Valley, where we will view and discuss morteros, yonis, pictographic rock art, and other archaeological features. Hike is moderate and will take about 1.5 hours. Bring water, and wear a hat and hiking shoes. Note: 1-hour drive from Visitor Center; 2 wheel drive, high clearance recommended. Pre-registration and $5.00 fee required. To sign up call ABF at 760-767-4063. More trip details here.

Events

9:00 - 2:00 - Native American Basket and Pottery Display and Demonstrations. Craft items will be for sale.

9:30 -12:00 - Tours of the Archaeology Lab. Groups depart from front door of ABDSP Visitor Center approximately every half hour.

10:00 - 3:00 - Display: Desert Plant Use by Native Americans: food, clothing, & medicine. By ABDSP Volunteer Naturalist, Marge Hatcher

10:00 - 12:00 - Pottery Making Demonstration - Includes clay grinding and paddle & anvil construction techniques. Clay will be available for spectator participation. By Archaeology volunteer, Toni Kastelic

12:00 - 1:00 - Walk: Desert Drug Store, with ABDSP Certified Interpretive Guide, Abby Barker