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Archaeology Day

  • King Gillette Ranch (Visitor Center) 26876 Mulholland Highway Calabasas, CA, 91302 United States (map)

Reserve your spot here

October is California Archaeology Month, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is celebrating it with Archaeology Day! The event will be held at the Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch on October 14, from 9:00am to 2:30pm.

Bring the entire family to King Gillette Ranch to join us in celebrating International Archaeology Day! This event will be family-friendly with activities for people of all ages!

The event will feature all-day activities along with performances throughout the day. The performance schedule below will be updated as the event approaches and presentation details are confirmed, so keep an eye out as it develops or email Samo_Interpretation@nps.gov.

Performance schedule:

  • 9:30am to 11:00am- Blessing and acknowledging the first People of the land followed by Native American Presentations

  • 11:00am to 12:00pm - Early Archeology and the Public in 19th Century America by James Snead, Ph.D. (California State University, Northridge)

  • 12:00pm to 1:00pm - Stewarding the Past and Present: Chumash and University Collaborations at CSU Channel Islands by Colleen M. Delaney, Ph.D. (Professor of Anthropology, California State University, Channel Islands)

  • 1:00pm to 2:00pm - Why Archeology in National Parks? by Laura Kirn, M.A. (Cultural Resources Team Lead, Channel Islands National Park )

  • 2:00pm to 2:30pm - Closing presentation by Chumash elders Ted and Dennis Garcia

All-day activities:

  • Dig up "artifacts" like an archaeologist in the hands-on excavation box

  • Practice throwing an atlatl spear or a rabbit stick at a target

  • Watch flint knapping demonstrations as experts turn stone into arrowheads

  • See genuine local artifacts on display

  • Learn more about history and prehistory with our hands-on replica artifact tables

  • Learn about the difference between archaeologists and paleontologists (hint: archaeologists don't dig dinosaurs)

  • Learn about how archeologists study artifacts at the archeology lab table

  • Discover archaeology programs offered at local colleges

  • Become a Junior Archaeologist and earn a special patch!

And more!

This event & parking is completely free and open to the public.

Interagency Visitor Center is located at 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302.

Questions about this event? Contact us at the Interagency Visitor's Center at King Gillette Ranch.

Phone: (805)-370-2301

Email: Samo_Interpretation@nps.gov

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Monte Nido Community Meeting

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Monte Nido Square Dance