Events

Get creative this October! Join us for a family-friendly pottery workshop where you can create your own piece of pottery to take home with you. Then journey through the museum on a family-friendly Archaeology Quest. Museum admission and pottery workshop are free for kids 12 and under. Adult museum admission: Pay what you wish (suggested $10/person). No registration required - drop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm. Not able to attend our workshop? Pick up a pottery kit (free with Kids Free San Diego coupon) and make your own at home.

Do you like animals? Are you curious about archaeology? This Halloween, explore where these interests meet in a delightfully macabre fashion at our Zooarchaeology Owl Pellet Dissection Workshop. Discover the ecology of local owls and learn how archaeologists use animal remains to better understand human lifeways. Special guest Susan Arter, co-director of the San Diego Zooarchaeology Lab at the San Diego Natural History Museum, will be on hand to help identify faunal material in the pellets and answer questions about the field of zooarchaeology. This event is ages 21+. Your ticket will include two owl pellets and two drinks per person.  Cost: $40; SDAC Members $30

From 2023 to 2025, the Palomar College archaeology excavation class uncovered a long-forgotten nineteenth-century adobe in San Diego County’s Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove area. These excavations provide the first comprehensive archaeological documentation of this historic adobe, revealing new insights into its residence, the community, and its place in the region’s past. Conducted in cooperation with property owner Greg White and regional historian Alexa Clausen, the project investigated the adobe’s architecture, history, and changing use. Across four field seasons and 47 excavation units, students and researchers documented distinctive stone foundations, interior walls, a collapsed brick chimney, and other architectural features that offer new insights into historic building practices and domestic life. Drawing on archaeological evidence, archival research, and comparisons with the nearby Robert Israel Adobe, this presentation explores the intertwined Californio and Anglo-American histories of the Aliso District. Despite extensive disturbance from erosion, salvage, recreational use, and other post-abandonment processes, the excavations revealed important details about the adobe’s construction and history, contributing to a deeper understanding of San Diego County’s historic adobe architecture and regional past. Cost: $15; SDAC Members $5 About the Presenter Betsy Pain is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Palomar College, where she serves as the Archaeology Program Coordinator. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA and her M.A. in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge. Her specialty is historical archaeology, with a focus on bringing to light the stories of underrepresented communities through archaeological research. Above all, Betsy is passionate about working with students, sharing her love of archaeology, and providing hands-on learning experiences in both the field and the laboratory.

Join us for a members-only presentation delving into the murky, storied archaeological past of our favorite malted beverage. From ancient Sumerian hymns to Egyptian tombs to the secretive monasteries of old Bavaria, we'll uncover how archaeological findings such as brewing tools and ancient recipes reveal beer's influence on culture, economy, and social life throughout history. This free event is for ages 21+ and includes two beverages per person. Not a member or need to renew? Purchase Membership

Get creative this holiday season by making festive, handmade ornaments! Our Holiday Art with an Archaeologist workshop is free for kids 12 and under. We will be talking about the earth underfoot and creating unique ornaments that showcase the beauty of stratigraphy. Stop by the San Diego Archaeological Center any time between 10 AM and 2 PM to get started. All materials will be provided!