PROGRAM SOLD OUT

Saturday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; Sunday 9 am - 12 pm
Instructor: Joan Schneider, PhD.
Fee: Members $70; Non-members $90 (no-credit option)

If you would like to take this class for credit, see below.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and 2 other parks -- Cuyamaca Rancho and Palomar Mountain -- have exceptionally rich archaeological records. Much of the evidence of the peoples' who have lived on the lands for at least the last 5000 years is subtle and reflects a number of activities by which they "made their livings." Join an archaeologist and learn about the prehistoric peoples of the area, how they lived on the natural resources that the lands provided, coped with temperature extremes, made tools, found water, and how they celebrated, mourned, married, and traded with other areas for commodities that were not at-hand.

Classroom sessions, illustrated by photography, in addition to several field experiences, will allow class participants to understand this complex desert landscape and the people who lived on the land in the past.

Get an "insiders" view of the archaeological laboratory, collections, and library at Colorado Desert District Headquarters in Borrego Springs. Learn how archaeologists are able to tell the stories of past peoples, how archaeologists "tell time," and how archaeologists and historians, working in the parks (both paid staff and volunteers), strive to protect the record of the past so that your children, grandchildren, and future generations can continue to enjoy what the parks preserve.

The instructor will provide handouts and a suggested reading list. We will visit a number of archaeological sites that are open to the public, but will view them with "new eyes." Wear field clothes, bring hat, sunscreen, and at least ½ gallon of drinking water each day. Lunch will be "in the field," so make sure to bring something to eat. Expect to spend two hours each day in the classroom and then head for the field. 4WD vehicles are not a must but are recommended as we will be traveling on unpaved surfaces. High clearance vehicles are preferred. We will carpool.

Meet at Begole Archaeological Research Center (BARC) Library, near ABDSP HQ

*One unit of college credit is available for this class, through UC Riverside Extension. Participants desiring credit should add an additional $50 for one unit of credit through UC Riverside Extension ($45 for members of PINE), for a total fee of $120 for ABFI members ($115 if also a member of PINE) and $140 for nonmembers ($135 if members of PINE).
Those taking the class for credit should bring cameras and notebooks. Your grade for the class will be based on an annotative field trip log that you complete after the class and send to the instructor for grading.