A Deep History of California’s Northern Channel Islands

Date: February 25, 2016
Contact: Yvonne Menard, 805-658-5725

Dr. Jon M. Erlandson, archaeologist and professor at the University of Oregon, will discuss over 13,000 years of archaeological evidence that provide a glimpse into how humans haveadapted to life on the Channel Islands.

This special lecture will be hosted at the Museum of Ventura County on March 10, at 7:00 pm, as part of a celebration of the National Park Service Centennial and the 150^th Anniversary for the City of Ventura.

Recent interdisciplinary research on the northern islands, including work being done by archaeologists, historians, paleontologists, and ecologists, reveals the many ways in which humans on the islands both adapted and actively shaped their sometimes changing environments.

From Paleo-Indian times to more recent pioneer days, these new discoveries help archaeologists better understand the past, and the information from this research can be used to more effectively manage and restore the islands' ecosystems and resources.

Erlandson received his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has taught archaeology at the University of Oregon since 1990 and was appointed as the director of the university's Museum of Natural and Cultural History in 2005. He has spent nearly 40 years studying the archeology of maritime peoples on the Channel Islands, along the Pacific Coast, and around the world.

This lecture occurs on March 10, at 7:00 pm, at the Museum of Ventura County and is $5.00 per adult. Admission for children is free. The museum is located in downtown Ventura, at 100 E. Main Street. For information, call [phone] or visit venturamuseum.org.

The From Shore to Sea lecture series is sponsored by Channel Islands National Park to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding marine waters. The lecture series is presented in honor of the National Park Service's milestone centennial anniversary, which celebrates 100 years of national parks.

To learn about future lectures, visit From Shore to Sea Lecture Series.