Artifact of the Week: Arrow Points
Bow and arrow technology were introduced to the region during the Late Holocene. During this period, the people of the Late Prehistoric Tradition hunted small game with the bow and arrow. Almost all archaeological theories about San Diego’s early history…
Artifact of the Week: Beads and Pendants
Throughout history, humans have adorned themselves. These beads came from archaeological sites all over San Diego. The shell beads are made of olivella, abalone, clam, scallop, and dentalia. The grooved stone bead is made of steatite. During the Late Prehistoric…
Artifact of the Week: Bone Awls
The people of the Late Prehistoric Tradition used bone awls to make holes in leather for clothing and in basketmaking. They made most bone awls from the delicate leg bones of deer sharpened to a point. Technologically, the people of…
Artifact of the Week: Stone Bowl-Mortar
Stone bowl mortars were the perfect tool for processing acorns, which had to be pounded into a meal and rinsed to remove bitter tannin. Mortars were also carved into bedrock near oak trees. Bowl mortars were more portable and could…
Artifact of the Week: Grinding Tools
Grinding tools of granitic stone were common for the Late Prehistoric Tradition. Local inhabitants used them to grind clay in preparation for pottery, acorns, and other foodstuffs. About 3,500 years ago, the region experienced a long period of widespread drought,…
From Inside the Vaults: Museum Housekeeping and Gallery Maintenance
From Inside the Vaults is a monthly blog that gives insight into best practices for collections stewardship, curation, and archaeological collecting institutions. What Does Housekeeping Look Like for Museums and Collecting Institutions? How is it different from our typical at-home…
