Meg McDonald will give a special guest lecture, “Prehistoric Occupation at Lavic Lake, California,” at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Lavic Lake, near Twenty-nine Palms, was full of water during the Ice Ages. Archaeological sites along the shores of the Pleistocene lake show that there was extensive prehistoric use of the area by humans. More than 100 archaeological sites have been recorded in the area: lithic prospects, camp sites, lithic scatters, rockshelters, trails, rock alignments, and rock art.

Dr. McDonald will discuss these sites, many of which date from 3,500 to 1,500 years B.P., and review evidence that use of the area may range from 8,000 years ago to about 1,500 years ago.

Meg McDonald received her doctorate in anthropology at the University of California, Riverside. Her dissertation research focused on excavations at the Indian Hill Rockshelter in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which contains deposits spanning 5,000 years of occupation. Since 1984, Dr. McDonald has worked in the Colorado and Mojave deserts and in the San Diego region. She is presently the Cultural Resources Manager at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twenty-nine Palms, California.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call (909) 307-2669 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.

The San Bernardino County Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is (909) 307-2669 ext. 229 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.