Artifact of the Week: Projectile Points
These projectile points may have been attached to spears or throwing darts. They are too large and heavy for arrows. Spears were frequently used with atlatls, or throwing sticks, which significantly increased the distance and force of the point. The…
From Inside the Vaults: Pest Management
From Inside the Vaults is a monthly blog that gives insight into best practices for collections stewardship, curation, and archaeological collecting institutions. What is Integrated Pest Management? Preventing collections from damage and deterioration is an important part of any collections…
Artifact of the Week: Discoidal
These almost perfectly round tools indicate sophisticated technology. The exact use of these tools is unknown, although suggestions have included games, ceremonial uses, and weights. They do not appear to have been used for grinding foodstuffs or other material. They…
Artifact of the Week: Scrapers and Choppers
During the Middle Holocene, local inhabitants heavily utilized coastal resources. Scrapers and choppers were very useful tools for processing shellfish, cutting wood, and smashing animal bone. Most stone choppers and scrapers from the La Jolla Tradition are made of quartzite.…
