archaeology Archives

Lecture: Where it All Began, El Presidio of San Diego

Speaker: Author and Historian Richard Carrico Join Richard Carrico as he explores Alta California’s first Spanish settlement at Presidio Hill in San Diego. Founded in 1769, the ruins of the mission and fort are now beneath the landscaped hills in Presidio Park. Carrico’s newly released book tells the stories of those who lived at the presidio, including the Kumeyaay people. One highlighted story is of Sinusin, a Kumeyaay woman who married a Spanish soldier and raised her family at the presidio. Carrico's extensive research draws from Spanish archives, Kumeyaay oral traditions, and nearly a decade of archaeological work at the site. In the ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. Register online or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.

SPECIAL ROCK ART WEEKEND: Dr. Whitley’s Lecture, Part 1 – Understanding Native Californian Rock Art

Speaker: David Whitley, Ph.D. The meanings of pictographs and petroglyphs have long been a mystery to most people, including archaeologists. The result has been a series of supposedly common-sense guesses, like “hunting magic” or “maps to water,” that were offered because people claimed Native Americans themselves did not know why these sites were made or how they were used. But the unpublished field notes of the state’s Native American tribes — the ethnographic record — some dating back to the 1870s, together with extensive published research, paint a different picture. With substantial research to identify and compile this widely scattered information, Dr. Whitley will explain how a clear understanding of the origins, meanings, and uses of the sites results, providing a better understanding and appreciation of the remarkable artistic and intellectual record of California rock art. In the ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, ABDNHA Volunteers: $8. Register at abdnha.org or the Nature Center at 760-767-3098.

SPECIAL ROCK ART WEEKEND: Dr. Whitley’s Lecture, Part 2 – European Cave Paintings and the Origins of Art and Religion

Speaker: David Whitley, Ph.D. Few aspects of our archaeological past are more intriguing than the ancient cave paintings and engravings of France and Spain. These are exemplified by the remarkable murals in sites such as Lascaux, Altamira, and Chauvet caves, which date from roughly 14,000 to 35,000 years ago. They, and similar sites, are widely regarded as signaling both the first “creative explosion” in human history, as indicated by the earliest true masterpieces of art, as well as the origins of religious beliefs and practices. In tonight’s presentation, Dr. Whitley will discuss his extensive research into cave art and how he has brought two distinct sciences together to find answers. The first part begins with archaeological data that suggest when, where, and why this phenomenon may have first emerged in human history. The second part involves investigating the cognitive sciences to understand why religious beliefs are found in every culture, at all time periods. This is not to determine the veracity of religious belief, which is a matter of personal faith, but to explain why religious and spiritual beliefs are universal to the human experience. Whether it is the result of biology or divine inspiration, aspects of human cognition have caused us to believe in gods, spirits, and spirit worlds from the earliest days of humanity. In the ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, ABDNHA Volunteers: $8. Register at abdnha.org or the Nature Center at 760-767-3098.

Lecture: Boomer Archaeologist

Speaker: Thomas Levy, Ph.D. “I had better write my story down before I forget it,” is what world-renowned archaeologist of the deserts of the Holy Land, Professor Thomas Levy, thought to himself when he retired from teaching. There are many layers to the stories that Tom shares with us tonight in his latest book, “The Boomer Archaeologist: A Graphic Memoir of Tribes, Identity, and the Holy Land.” The book is written for many different audiences, with stories woven together for his family, his many students, his professional colleagues, the Boomer, Millennials, and later generations in the USA, the Jewish world, and for those archaeologists now charting the future of archaeology, with new technologies that offer new approaches, and changes in the way the field of archaeology views itself. Join us for this interview-format presentation. The book is a lot of fun to read, with graphic illustrations done by his niece, Lily Almeida, based in London. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase at the end of the presentation at the reception. Location: The ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. Register online at www.abdnha.org or at the nature center, 760-767-3098.