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Land and Sea Event

Members Only: By Land and By Sea

San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA, United States

Location: San Diego Archaeological Center Cost: Free Center members are invited to a preview of the new exhibit, By Land and By Sea, which explores theories about who, when, and how early peoples came into the New World and into Southern California. Enjoy food and drink in the museum hall, hear a Curator Talk on the featured exhibit, and explore the museum with our new Cuseum web tour app.

Free

Archaeology of the Coronados Islands

San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA, United States

Location: San Diego Archaeological Center Cost: Free Despite their attractiveness to early human migrants and maritime foragers, small islands often are overlooked in archaeological and historical ecological investigations. Along Alta and Baja California, the Channel Islands and Isla Cedros have been the focus of extensive and intensive archaeological investigations. Even with the wealth of data from islands to the north and south, the Coronados Islands, a small set of four islands off the northwestern Baja California coast, have been the subject of very little scientific archaeological research. Joseph McCain will present his findings after an initial field season was completed in 2016. This research produced the first radiometric dates from the Coronados Islands, built an initial settlement chronology and occupational history, identified several prehistoric sites with high research potential, and laid the foundation for future archaeological and historical ecological studies of the island group.

2nd Sat: Murder and Mayhem

San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA, United States

Early twentieth-century San Diego was growing fast, and the officers sworn to protect the city encountered more than their fair share of wily lawbreakers. From a shootout with a lone gunman in Mission Hills to gunfights with a gang of bank robbers that involved enthusiastic bystanders hoping to assist, detectives and patrolmen alike tried to maintain the peace. They encountered unexpected bodies, confronted car thieves and pursued criminals through neighboring states and into Mexico. Join author Steve Willard as he unearths stories directly from the case files of the early San Diego Police Department. About the Author A San Diego resident since 1977, author Steve Willard joined the SDPD in 1985 and has worked patrol, crime prevention/public affairs, the detective bureau, the Traffic Division and management. He became a charter member of the San Diego Police Museum in 1997 and is the historian of the San Diego Police Officers Association. A reoccurring columnist in two law enforcement periodicals, Steve has authored three books on SDPD history and has consulted on a number of other historical projects. Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019 Time: 11 AM Location: San Diego Archaeological Center Cost: Free

2nd Sat: The Impossible Railroad

San Diego Archaeological Center 16666 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA, United States

In the early 1900s, San Diego was a growing and thriving city, but with no rail transportation eastward. Spearheaded by John D. Spreckels, with his persistence and money, a railroad was constructed that engineers warned would be impossible to build. Starting in San Diego, the “Impossible Railroad” snaked through brutal mountain and desert terrain to connect with the transcontinental Southern Pacific in El Centro. It took 12 challenging years to build, but the 1919 completion was widely celebrated. This November is the 100th anniversary of the completion of the San Diego and Arizona Railway which still operates along parts of its 148-mile route. Author Reena Deutsch will give an account of the line’s dramatic history through vintage photos and gripping narration. About the Author After stumbling upon old railroad tracks in our local desert, Dr. Reena Deutsch researched the colorful history of John Spreckels’ San Diego and Arizona (Eastern) Railway and has given dozens of lectures and wrote a book on it. Prior to retirement, Dr. Deutsch was a UCSD medical researcher. She currently serves as Board member for the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association and Balboa Park’s San Diego Model Railroad Museum. This year, she is collaborating with the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the San Diego and Arizona Railway. Date: Saturday, June 8, 2019 Time: 11 AM Location: San Diego Archaeological Center Cost: Free

Volunteers work in the Center’s Research Library, cataloguing materials and organizing on a computer-based system.

Marketing and Administrative Volunteers assist the Development Office or Administration Office with data entry, updating marketing materials and clerical tasks. Computer experience is a plus.

Docents welcome visitors and answer general questions regarding the Center and exhibits. Docents staff the gift shop and help out with administrative and curatorial tasks.

Volunteers support event activities at the Center, such as the Annual BBQ, lectures, workshops, and fundraising events. Be a part of the party!

Volunteer provide support for K-12 programs offered at the Center. These are fun, hands-on programs that kids really enjoy. Teaching experience is a plus, but not required. Background checks are required.

Photogrammetry

With the assistance of Center staff, the intern will use photogrammetry to prepare one or more archaeological collections for digital preservation, as well as create a virtual museum exhibit for our Public Archaeology department. Per approval, special projects of the intern’s choosing are also available. During the research and planning, the intern will receive guidance as appropriate to their selected project. Prospective interns should already be familiar with photogrammetric procedures, and Agisoft Metashape.

Collections Management

With the assistance of Center staff, the intern will prepare one or more archaeological collections for curation. During the course of the internship, the intern will learn to identify artifacts and ecofacts common to the San Diego region, including lithics, ceramics, historical objects, and faunal, botanical, and mineral specimens. Center staff will instruct the intern on archaeological laboratory procedures such as basic artifact analysis, manual and computer cataloguing, storage requirements, and preventative conservation. In addition, the intern will become familiar with historical trends in archaeological practice in the San Diego area and will be introduced to current legal and ethical issues in archaeological curation as well as the concerns and rights of culturally affiliated groups with regard to archaeological materials.

Development and Marketing

Under the direction of Center staff, the intern will support the department in various activities, including, but not limited to, fundraising and grant research; e-newsletter development; social media marketing; and website maintenance. This internship will give the intern valuable, real-world experience in non-profit fundraising and marketing.

Geographical Information Systems in Archaeology

Prospective Interns must have completed three courses: Introduction to GIS, GIS Database Management, and Intermediate/Advanced Methods in GIS. The intern will be assigned a project where they will create shapefiles and maps for curated archaeological collections, museum exhibits, and/or public outreach using ArcGIS 10.6. Center staff will instruct the intern on archaeological GIS laboratory procedures such as computer cataloguing, storage requirements, and database management.

Library Science

With the assistance of Center staff, the intern will arrange and catalog materials in the Center’s library. During the course of the internship, the intern will take a leading role in the cataloging, sorting and storing of research files and creating user guides for these collections. Center staff will instruct the intern on archival procedures, computer cataloging, storage requirements, and preventative conservation.

Public Archaeology

Harness your passion for Public Archaeology and gain hands-on experience with K-12 museum field trips, lectures, and public outreach. Additional projects may include creating virtual museum exhibits and activities, assisting in the development and implementation of K-12 curricula programs, planning and presenting public facing content, or educational field trip content of your own design. Must be able to pass a Live Scan.