THEME: Dedication of the Morteros Cultural Trail

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Events:

9 – 4:30 Silent Auction at the Begole Archaeological Research Center. Bidding closes 4:30 pm. Winning bids announced 5:00 pm. (Winners need not be present)

9– 4:00 Native American Basket and Pottery Display and Demonstrations. (Craft items for sale)

9:30 – 4 Tours of the Archaeology Lab. Groups depart Visitor Center front door approximately every half hour.

9:30 – 3 Kids Activities: Fun table with archaeology crafts and games.

10 – 12 Pottery Making Demonstration – Includes clay grinding and paddle & anvil construction techniques. By Archaeology volunteer. Carol Black. (Clay will be available for spectator participation)

4 – 5:30 Free Ice Cream Social: Ice cream sundaes and announcement of silent auction winning bids at 5:00. Begole Archaeological Research Center, patio area.

Lectures:

10 – 11 Archaeology Underwater: Explorations beyond the Shores of Time. By John Foster, Senior State Archaeologist, California State Parks (Retired)

11- 12 Living on the Edge: The Sage Canyon Project in the West Mojave Southern Sierra Ecozone. By Dr. Mark W Allen – Professor of Anthropology, Department of Geography & Anthropology, Cal Poly Pomona.

1 – 2 Organization & Elaboration of Mortuary Spaces within Hunter-Gatherer Settlement Systems in the Western Colorado Desert. By Mariam Dahdul, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

2 – 3 Ethnobotany of Contemporary Native Baja Californians: Kumeyaay and Paipai Plant Interactions and their Implications for Regional Prehistory. By Michael Wilken-Robertson, Anthropological Consultant

3 – 4 Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique (OSL) A possible means of dating surface archaeological phenomena that are not suitable for other types of dating methods. Aimed at dating rock circle and rock cairn features in ABDSP, for which no dates are available. By Joan Schneider, PhD, Assoc State Archaeologist, retired

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Events:

9 – Noon Native American Basket and Pottery Display and Demonstrations. (Craft items for sale)

9:30 -12 Tours of the Archaeology Lab.
Groups depart Visitor Center front door approximately every half hour

10 -11 We have WalMart – They had DesertMart – Desert Indians’ use of plants: for food, clothing, and shelter and Medicine. By Hank Barber, Certified Interpretive Guide

10–1:00 Morteros Cultural Trail Dedication Ceremony in Blair Valley.

10 – 12 Pottery Making Demonstration – Includes clay grinding and paddle & anvil construction techniques.
By: Archaeology volunteer, Carol Black. (Clay will be available for spectator participation)

12–1:00 Walk: Desert Drug Store. By: ABDSP Certified Interpretive Guide, Abby Barker

Field Trips

10-1:00 Morteros (`Ehmuu) Trail Dedication Ceremony – Attendees should arrive by 9:30 to allow time for parking and walking to the Morteros Trail dedication location. The ceremony will last approximately 30 minutes and then attendees will be able to hike the trail using the new interpretive trail guide. There will be event monitors to assist with parking and arranging shuttle service for those with walking difficulties.

2 – 4 Hike to the Pictograph Rock in Smuggler’s Canyon. Join Associate State Archaeologist, Sue Wade, on a moderate 3-mile roundtrip hike through a beautiful desert valley to the Pictograph Rock, where you will view examples of the San Luis Rey style of pictographic art. You will also see milling mortars at a small seasonal village site and visit a spectacular dry waterfall panoramic overlook. Meet at the Pictograph Trailhead in Blair Valley.

2 – 4 Hike a Portion of the Historic Overland Trail – Join historian/author, Chris Wray, on a 2-mile hike in the Vallecito Valley where he will point out old wagon road scars. Chris will talk about the various uses of the road through the years and provide a current update on efforts to have the Butterfield Overland Mail route added into the National Historic Trails System. Meet at Box Canyon Monument on Hwy S-2 (near Mile Marker 26).

Pre-registration and $5.00 fee required for Pictograph Rock & Historic Overland Trail hikes. For detailed information and reservations call ABF at 760/767-4063. During Archaeology Weekend: Check for last-minute field trip openings at the ABF table in front of the Visitor’s Center. Wear hiking shoes and bring hat and water.

MORTEROS `EHMUU INTERPRETIVE TRAIL
The Morteros Trail – takes you through the remains of a Kumeyaay seasonal village. You will find evidence of food preparation rocks called ‘ehmuu and many agave processing stations. Allow yourself to imagine Kumeyaay families living and working here. This ½ mile trail is one of three cultural trails in the Little Blair Valley Cultural Preserve area.

Colorado Desert Archaeology Society
9th Annual Archaeology Weekend at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center
Borrego Springs, California
April 14-15, 2012