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 and grey literature, 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 spanning the Paleoindian through Late Prehistoric periods, offering critical windows into long-term settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and environmental adaptation in arid environments.

Paleoindian Studies

Building on the region's rich record of early human occupation, SCARI's Paleoindian research program examines the distribution and technological characteristics of fluted points, Lake Mojave/Silver Lake assemblages, and other early cultural materials across Southern California's diverse landscapes.