News and Events
Upcoming SLOCAS Events
We had so much fun at our very first installment of the San Luis Obispo County Archaeological Society’s (SLOCAS) Online Lecture Series on Friday, June 11! Thank you to everyone who showed interested and participated in the lecture. We can’t wait to see you at the next one!
A recording of the lecture is now available on our YouTube channel! Click here to be taken to the recording, or copy and paste this link into your internet browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jepcBgz-H9s.
To contact our June Online Lecture Series guest speaker, Dr. Garrett Fesler, click here to send him an e-mail. To learn more about the Office of Historic Alexandria and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, please visit their website.
Upcoming Local (California) and Virtual Events:
(VIRTUAL) San Diego Archaeological Center Living Room Lecture Series: Modern Representations of Archaeology in the Media, June 24, 2021
Join the San Diego Archaeological Center on Thursday, June 24 at 6:30pm (PDT) for “Modern Representations of Archaeology in the Media: The Roman City of Jerash, Jordan,” with documentary filmmaker Chris Boyd. Chris will present considerations on how archaeological material and concepts are presented to the general public through popular media, using an ongoing restoration project in Jerash, Jordan as a case study. Click here to register and for more information.
(VIRTUAL) Ventura County Archaeological Society: Local Lithic Technology and Small-Scale Change on Limuw (Santa Cruz Island), September 14, 2021
(IN PERSON) Save the Date: Heritage Day, September 11, 2021, Dana Adobe
Save the date for the Dana Adobe and Cultural Center’s 2021 Heritage Festival on September 11, 2021. Admission cost is $10, and children 12 years of age and younger can attend for free. Ticket purchases and more information will be available soon at www.danaadobe.org.
Ongoing Opportunities
Want to attend an archaeological field school in California? The California Society for Archaeology’s (SCA) list of archaeology field schools, is a great resource for students. Click here to be taken to the list. SCA regularly updates it, too!
Listen to a presentation by Chad Jackson, California State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District associate state archaeologist on the archaeology of San Luis Obispo county. Click here to listen to the fascinating history of our central coast.
Check out the Archaeological Conservancy’s 2020 Virtual Lecture Series: Click here to view the series, including a presentation by Cory D. Wilkins, MBA, who shares some of the history, stories, and artifacts from around California.
The Archaeological Institute of America offers many resources, including webinars and lecture series. Click here to visit their website for more information.
The San Diego Archaeological Center has past lectures available on their website. Click here to view their “Museum at Home” virtual lectures.
Other News
A discovery out of East Africa has yielded the oldest known evidence of modern humans in Africa burying their dead. Click here to access the article, written by Michael Price of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Read this exciting article “Archaeologists discover site that was once home Harriet Tubman’s father.” The site was uncovered by archaeologists working in Maryland.
Learn about the “Lost golden city of Luxor,” recently discovered by archaeologists in Egypt. Click here to read National Geographic’s breakdown of this fascinating discovery.
SLOCAS is on Facebook! Follow us on Facebook to stay in touch, learn about upcoming events and archaeological news, and job alerts. Click here to be directed to our page or search for @SLOarchaeology on Facebook.
Our Value to the Community
SLOCAS provides and operates a Research and Collections facility for the archival storage of archaeological collections. We support research conducted by the archaeological community through access to collections archived at the Facility, a publication series, and outreach to the general public.
Our Mission is to:
- Educate and provide information to our community on archaeology, anthropology, and related subjects as they pertain to San Luis Obispo County, and California.
- Promote conservation of archaeological sites, records, and collections
- Maintain a research library
- Encourage the adoption of archaeological resource preservation guidelines and legal requirements
Our vision also includes:
- Achieve financial security
- Aid, foster, and promote the understanding and appreciation of archaeology, archaeological history, and anthropology of California’s Central Coast through the publication of a bimonthly newsletter, a user-friendly web site, and annual membership meetings
- Make collections available for research to foster a deep understanding of human history through the science of archaeology, history, and the cultural artifacts
- Financial stability of SLOCAS and its Facility
- Ensure the long-term viability of the Facility at its current location
- Continue SLOCAS’ publication series
- Facilitate access to collections and research library
- Establish consistent and timely communication with our stakeholders, customers, and educational institutions
- Maintain Facility and Curation 80%
- Public Outreach and Communications 45%
- Promote Archaeological Principles 95%
Newsletter & Publications
Members receive our newsletter, The Artifact, which keeps them up to date with news, events, and reprints of national articles of interest.
A selection of 
publications is available for purchase, including publications based on the California State Water Project, Coastal Branch Series.
View Publications
The SLOCAS repository houses collections from SLO County and the Central Coast
Learn MoreSLOCAS Research and Collections Facility
Submissions
Fees
Frequently Asked Questions
How else can I get involved in archaeology?
USFS Passport in Time (PIT) is a volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program of the US Forest Service
CASSP is the California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program, where trained volunteers work with professional archaeologists to protect archaeological and historical resources by regularly visiting sites and recording changes.
Does SLOCAS have archaeological lesson plans and materials for teachers?
Yes! We have lesson plans developed for grades 4-6, which can be adapted for other audiences. Please contact SLOCAS for more information.
How do I become a member?
How is SLOCAS funded?
We are funded through membership dues, donations, and curation fees charged for archiving.
Can I attend a meeting or special event?
Can anyone view the collections and visit the SLOCAS facility?
We are not a museum, but we are open to Members and Registered Researchers. Join
Is it ok to collect artifacts?
If you encounter artifacts in your own backyard or elsewhere in our open space, please leave the artifacts where you found them. Feel free to take a photograph or two to remember the artifact(s).
So much evidence of past human activities (artifacts) has been removed over time and now resides in closets and garages, forever disconnected from its original context and meaning. So let’s leave things where and as we find them. View more