Mission
THE MISSION OF THE SAN DIEGO ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER IS TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION AND PRESERVE THEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBAL AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.THERE ARE OVER 30,000 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. IN THE FACE OF EXPANDING DEVELOPMENT, THESE CULTURAL RESOURCES ARE AT RISK OF DESTRUCTION. WHEN THESE IRREPLACEABLE SITES AND ARTIFACTS ARE DESTROYED, IT CREATES A PERMANENT GAP IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SAN DIEGOS PAST. THE CENTER PRESERVES OVER 2 MILLION OF THESE ARTIFACTS AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS ACROSS 1,430 ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS. EDUCATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF THE CENTERS WORK. MUSEUM EXHIBITS INCLUDE HALLMARKS OF THE HOLOCENE, AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT FEATURING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AROUND THE WORLD, AND FACT OR FICTION: HOLLYWOOD, HOAXES, AND HEARSAY, WHICH INVESTIGATES THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE (OR LACK THEREOF) FOR COMMONLY HELD ARCHAEOLOGICAL BELIEFS. ADULT PROGRAMS INVOLVE LECTURES ON LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH