Children invited to be a junior archaeologist for a day

Children eight to 12 years old can learn how to investigate the past during the Junior Archaeologist Field Day at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center on Saturday, April 28. The event goes from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Participants will discover how archaeologists investigate life in the past through fun, hands-on activities at a real archaeological site. They will work as a junior archaeologist in the field, participate in a simulated dig, and learn about ancient skills and technologies.

Registration fee is $12 for Rock Art Center members and $15 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. Deadline is April 13.

The Junior Archaeologist Field Day fulfills eight of 11 Boy Scout archaeology badge requirements, and all Girl Scout archaeology patch requirements. (Please note that the center does not issue merit badges or patches.)

The Deer Valley Rock Art Center has the largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs in the Phoenix Valley. Visitors hike a quarter-mile trail to view more than 1,500 petroglyphs made between 500 and 7,000 years ago. The museum aims to promote preservation, connection and respect for the site and is a destination for families to learn about archaeology in their own backyard.

The center is managed by one of the top archaeology programs in the country – the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University.

To register, call 623-582-8007 or download and complete the registration form at http://dvrac.asu.edu/events/calendar.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The Deer Valley Rock Art Center is located at 3711 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix.