On Tuesday, April 19th at 7 pm, the Friends of San Pedro Valley Park are pleased to welcome back the very popular Mark Hylkema in the program entitled “Mammoth in the Artichokes.” He will discuss the remains of an Ice Age mammal found near Castroville in 2011 and the research team that investigated and recovered these remains. He will connect the lives and diet of the first Native Americans with the huge animals that roamed this area at the time of the Ice Age, and uncover a completely different landscape and a fascinating natural history of the Monterey Bay region. Be sure to mark your calendars.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3FgyY1MGQ6yNLysH1vn_Gg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

About the talk:  In the spring of 2011, the remains of a Columbian Mammoth were archaeologically recovered from artichoke fields near the town of Castroville, California.  In addition to the partial, but articulated remains of the mammoth, a variety of other Late Pleistocene (Ice Age) animals were also recovered.  In the hope of finding a link to Paleo Indian behavior, a research team involving many different colleges and universities was tasked to investigate.  The process of learning about these animals has led to a journey of discovery about the landscape and natural history of the Monterey Bay region at the end of the Great Ice Age.  This lecture will highlight some of the many insights we have gained and will share information about our recovery of the remains of creatures that were once on the menu for the first people of the Americas- but have vanished from our world as if they had never been.            

About the speaker:  Mark Hylkema manages cultural resources within 32 State Parks of the Santa Cruz District- an area ranging from San Francisco to the Pajaro River.  Mark also works on many other projects throughout the state and has over 40 years of experience in California archaeology, with an emphasis on Native American culture.  He has published extensively in journals and books focused on the archaeology of North America.  In addition to his work for State Parks, he is an adjunct professor of Anthropology at Foothill College, and has taught anthropology courses at Santa Clara University, University of California at Santa Cruz, De Anza College, Ohlone College and Cabrillo College.  Mark was the President of the Society for California Archaeology during the 2015/2016 term (search scahome.org).