QUENCHING OUR THIRST
"Culture, Environment and Change"

THIS EXHIBIT AND RECYCLING PROGRAM IS IN DEVELOPMENT -
WITH FIRST CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR SUMMER 2009

Funding Provided by:
County of San Diego, District 3 Supervisor
Pam Slater-Price's Community Fund and


Pacific Life Foundation

A new component to the Center’s
Educational Programming
is in development.


QUENCHING OUR THIRST -
"Culture, Environment and Change”



is an exhibit and educational program that explores the marked transformation in the archaeological record that has occurred due to our need to “quench our thirst.” Beginning with graceful Native American ollas used to store water (that lasted for years) and ending with the staggering amount of single-use beverage containers that are exhausting landfill space, this project traces how everyday objects reflect and impact culture and the environment in the San Diego region.

A primary focus of the project is to shed light on the fact that 1 BILLION water bottles are thrown away in California each year.

Today’s trash is tomorrow’s archaeology.
What will they think of us 1,200 years from now, and how will our actions today affect future generations?

The San Diego Archaeological Center is serving as project leader and is partnering with I Love a Clean San Diego to present this insightful look at the changing impact on the environment caused by our need to “quench our thirst”.

The project furthers the mission of the San Diego Archaeological Center which is to preserve archaeological collections and to promote their educational, scientific and cultural use to benefit a diverse public Utilizing the archaeological record of the San Diego region, the exhibit/educational program illustrates a progression beginning with hand-made biodegradable objects from 1,200 years ago to today’s mass-produced plastics. The project chronicles how cultural influences, societal change and growing environmental imprints impact the archaeological record and the lives and health of individuals across time. It serves as a model from which important lessons in history, culture, population growth, technology and most importantly, environmental stewardship may be gleaned.

This collaborative project includes:

The exhibit“Quenching Our Thirst – Culture, Environment and Change” thatexplores the archaeological record of beverage containers from 1,200 years ago to present day.The traveling exhibit will first debut at the San Diego Archaeological Center, then will be displayed in venues including community centers, libraries, schools, and outreach locations throughout the region. A banner stand display version will be utilized for community venues with limited floor space.

Educational Programming that combines archaeology and environmental stewardship will directly relate to exhibit information to expand the ability of the project to educate a broad and diverse audience from elementary-age students to adults. Programming will be created and delivered by educational staff of the San Diego Archaeological Center and
I Love a Clean San Diego.

An informational brochure designed by the Center with historical facts on the exhibit as it relates to environmental change and the impact of plastics on local and global environments. The brochure will be widely distributed by the Center and ILACSD to address the need for improved recycling, reduced use efforts and alternatives to plastic water bottles and plastic in general.

Recycling Campaign: Artifact 800 A.D. vs. Artifact 2008. Utilizing the image of an artifact from 1,200 years ago and a modern day water bottle to brand the campaign for recycling, the project will visually emphasize the difference in effect of biodegradable vs. plastic items on the environment and open a ialogue about the changing environmental stewardship responsibilities of our current generation.

Long-term Awareness Campaign: Plastic water bottles are not being recycled. (Example: Only 16% of polyethylene terephthalate water bottles sold in California are being recycled. At that rate, the amount of water bottles thrown in the trash ten years from now would be enough to create a two lane, six inch deep highway that stretches the entire coast of California. ) School and community awareness events will provide opportunities for dissemination of information to change attitudes and assumptions relating to the level of recycling that is occurring in our region. Information on ecologically sound alternatives to plastics will be provided.

Community clean up days in an urban environment such as Barrio Logan, City Heights or Sherman Heights will be scheduled.

 

Additional in formation will be included on this page as exhibit updates and program benchmarks are completed.

If you are interested in a sponsorship to fully fund this exciting new program, or to express interest in participating in future classes, please contact
Marie Andersen, Director of Development.