Olivella Shell Bead Exchange Networks

SCARI's flagship research program investigates the structure and evolution of Olivella shell bead exchange networks across prehistoric Southern California. Drawing on a comprehensive review of published research, this project proposes a hub-and-spoke model for bead distribution, identifying key manufacturing centers and trade corridors linking coastal production sites to inland and desert communities.

This research integrates sourcing data (isotopic and morphological), manufacturing stage analysis, and regional distribution patterns to reconstruct the economic and social relationships that sustained long-distance exchange over thousands of years.

Desert Rockshelter Archaeology

SCARI maintains an active research interest in rockshelter sites across the Colorado Desert and adjacent ranges. These sites preserve stratified deposits offering critical windows into long-term settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and environmental adaptation in arid environments.

Human-Environment Interaction

SCARI investigates the long-term relationships between human communities and their environments across Southern California's desert and coastal landscapes. Current research focuses on the deep connection between the Cahuilla and Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), examining how indigenous land management, seasonal resource exploitation, and ecological knowledge shaped both cultural practices and plant community distribution in the Colorado Desert region.