Surfrider San Mateo County public meeting and Coastside archeology lecture, Thursday

Surfrider San Mateo County Chapter
invites you to our General Public Meeting
Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Free Event.
San Mateo Coastal Archeology ~ An Evening with Mark Hylkema Montara Lighthouse

In 1769, when members of the first Spanish expedition reached the San Francisco Bay area they encountered numerous tribal communities that lived in a bountiful landscape.  Over a period of 10,000 years, a mosaic of tribal communities have adapted to several major environmental transitions.  Archaeological research has found that tribes spread along the San Mateo and Santa Cruz County coast developed an early focus on marine resources, while neighboring tribes of the Santa Clara Valley and San Francisco Bay shore eventually transformed into more complex levels of social organization.  By the time the explorers arrived, distinctive tribal boundaries and customs had developed.  This discussion will provide an outline of the local prehistory and native lifeway up to the time of European contact.  We will also review aspects of the Spanish, Mexican and early American periods and reflect on what it was like not too many years ago when grizzly bears and the Ohlone people dwelled here.

Mark Hylkema is a State archaeologist with 28 years experience in California archaeology and Native American culture.  He has interacted with many different tribal communities, particularly in central and northern California.  He did his graduate research on the archaeology of the San Mateo and Santa Cruz County coast and has directed excavations throughout the greater San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas.  He works full time as the Santa Cruz District Archaeologist for California State Parks managing cultural resources in an area stretching from San Francisco to the Pajaro River; and has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Santa Clara University, University of California at Santa Cruz, De Anza College, Ohlone College and Cabrillo College.  A native of Mountain View, he currently resides in Sunnyvale.

Doors open at 7:00 PM
Meeting at 7:30 PM
At Montara Light House

Point Montara Light House
16th Street and Highway 1
Montara, CA 94037

Surfrider San Mateo chapter uses this very picturesque location for our General Meetings and other large meetings.

Please note that parking is very limited. Please carpool and invite your friends to the meeting. Please park only in the

which is nearest HWY 1.