Natural History Wanderings

Channel Islands News Release

A Deep History of California’s Northern Channel Islands

Ventura, CA — 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 have  adapted 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 150th 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 (805) 653-0323 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.

This publication is available online at:
www.nps.gov/chis/parknews/newsreleases.htm