Begole Archaeology Research Center & Lab
About The Begole Archaeological Research Center
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The Begole Archaeological Research Center (BARC) is an important archaeology laboratory and storage facility created to house a priceless collection of artifacts gathered from numerous prehistoric and historic sites within Anza-Borrego Desert, Cuyamaca Rancho, and Palomar Mountain state parks. These artifacts are protected with curation quality materials and shelving and stored in a climate-controlled environment. The BARC also includes a library that houses archaeology related books, periodicals, and reference materials, as well as historical displays and a conference table.
Following contemporary archaeological practice and direction from local Native American tribes, the Park no longer routinely collects material in the park, but rather studies and documents it before returning it to its location “in situ.”
Visiting Scholars
The BARC was created to foster research — and to be a gathering place for the archaeology community. Distinguished scholars come to the BARC to study these artifacts and add to the archaeology knowledge base about the indigenous people who lived in the Colorado Desert for thousands of years.
In 2018 several notable scientists came to the BARC lab to see the collections and do research. Steve and Kathleen Holen of the Center for American Paleolithic Research, and Curtis Runnels, a Paleolithic tool specialist and Archaeology Chair at Boston University, and Pricilla Murray, a lithic specialist, all visited. While in Borrego Springs, Steve Holen and Chris Runnels presented talks for the public about their specialties.
Recently, some very old tool specimens were sent to Dr. Tanzhou Liu in New York for testing. Dr. Liu can analyze and date the layers of desert varnish that have built up over many years through a process called Varnish Microlamination (VMI). VMI tests specific concentrations of elements such as boron and magnesium comparing them with other known dates. These date correlations can help determine the age of the tools.
Working in the Lab
Archaeologist and CDAS volunteer catalog artifacts.
Trained archaeology volunteers work in the BARC lab every week on a variety of projects. Labs Days are regularly held on Tuesdays, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm during the October 1 – May 1 season. Many jobs are available to qualified volunteers. These include weighing, measuring and cataloging non-accessioned artifacts, digitizing site records, using the new The Museum System to record artifacts consistent with California State requirements, and assisting to complete a full inventory of all artifacts in the BARC.
If you have been through or are completing your Archaeology Training with the District Archaeologist, and would like to volunteer, there are lots of helpful things you can do. If you are qualified and interested please contact Haley Elsken, Associate State Archaeologist, at Hayley.Elsken@parks.ca.gov for more information.