The Pacific Coast Archaeological Society (PCAS) was founded in 1961 as an avocational organization dedicated to the study, protection, and preservation of the cultural resources of the southern Pacific coast region, including the Baja Peninsula, with a special focus on Orange County, California.
Membership is open to all interested individuals including both avocational and professional archaeologists. An individual membership costs $45.00 per year. Other membership catagories are available.
In order to meet our goals of public education and advocacy in archaeology, PCAS hosts informative monthly lectures, field and laboratory research opportunities, group outings to view archaeological sites and exhibits, a scholarly publication, and a monthly newsletter.
Monthly lecture meetings feature noted archaeologists and anthropologists who provide insight into a variety of topics. Lecture meetings are held at the Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue (between the I-5 and I-405, next to the Post Office) in Irvine, on the second Thursday of each month, at 7:30 pm. Meetings are free and open to the public.
The Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly is a scholarly journal of original research concerning the prehistory and history of Orange County and other culturally related areas. The Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly invites the submission of material by both members and nonmembers. Current subscribers include some of the leading universities and research libraries in the US.
The PCAS Newsletter is a monthly publication of the Society devoted primarily to informing members of Society events and other organizational business. It also includes pertinent local news, an occasional short article or book review, and more.
In addition to the lectures and publications, the Society provides other membership benefits. Collections generated by local excavations are cleaned, studied, labeled, recorded, and prepared for storage by PCAS members at the PCAS Curation Facility. See the current Curation schedule. In 1977, the Orange County Board of Supervisors designated the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society as the official curator of archaeological materials for the County. PCAS was given use of a room in the historic Old Courthouse in Santa Ana for lab work and library display.
PCAS offers numerous field trips to unique prehistoric sites.
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Program Chair Joe Hodulik with speakers Roderic McLean, Joyce Perry, and Paul Langenwalter II at the June 2010 meeting.
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Mark Roeder showing fossils and casts, Archaeology Day, Garfield Elementary Academy, May 26, 2010. |
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Shell drilling at PCAS outreach, AIA Archaeology Fair, January 9-10, 2010. |
PCAS members at the Quarterly sales and information table, San Diego Museum of Man Rock Art Conference, November 7, 2009. |