Archeological Dig at Alviso Adobe Park
- May 23, 2013
By Autumn Johnson
Archeology students from the Anthropology Department of California State University East Bay are close to concluding a field study on the site of Alviso Adobe Community Park in Pleasanton. The public is invited to observe this rare and fun learning experience at Alviso Adobe Community Park onSaturday, May 25 and Saturday, June 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to observe the archeology dig and ask questions.
The park contains acres of interpretive grounds containing archaeological significance dating from early Native American occupations (3,000+BC) through the twentieth-century Meadowlark Dairy operation. The college Field Method class arrives weekly to focus on the park’s centerpiece, the Alviso Adobe, which spans the period from 1848 to the 1880’s.
The project, directed by Professor Albert Gonzalez, describes the transitioning Alviso household and explore the nature of the relations between the Alviso family and their neighbors. The focus of the excavation is on sampling a modest number of excavation units placed throughout the garden area. Artifacts recovered from the site have been cleaned, catalogued, and entered into an artifact database.
Saturday, June 8 marks the grand opening of the exhibit “Unearthing the Past”, which will reveal excavated artifacts such as ceramic shards, metal, bone fragments, and even recovered litter in the “Garbology” display. The grand opening runs from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. and also features an entertaining slide show and refreshments. The exhibit will be displayed in the Milking Barn and is free to the public.
Alviso Adobe Community Park operating hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday throughSunday. The park is wheelchair accessible and parking is located in the lot near Old Foothill Road and also along Old Foothill Road. Please avoid parking in all designated No Parking areas.