Professor Ruben Mendoza lectures on June 28

Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn about the work CSU Monterey Bay Professor Ruben Mendoza is doing in the California missions when he gives a talk on June 28 in Seaside.

“The Cross and the Spade: Archaeology, Art and Photography in the California Missions” is the title of his talk, to be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. at Studio Seaside, 840 Broadway Ave. The free presentation is part of Arts Habitat’s monthly lecture series.

Dr. Mendoza is an archaeologist, writer, and photographer who has explored the length and breadth of Mexico, Central America, Europe and the American Southwest documenting both pre-Columbian and Colonial era sites and collections.

A founding faculty member at CSUMB, Professor Mendoza has directed major archaeological investigations and conservation projects at missions San Juan Bautista, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, among others.

Recent efforts at the Royal Presidio of Monterey resulted in the tandem discovery of the earliest Serra era Christian houses of worship in California dated to 1770 and 1771. His work on behalf of the Royal Presidio Chapel Conservation Project was awarded the California Preservation Foundation Preservation Design Award for 2009.

His long-term contributions to "furthering the preservation and protection of the California Missions" was acknowledged by the California Mission Directors and Curators Conference with the granting of the Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén Award for 2010.

For more information on his talk, call 624-6111.

To read more about Professor Mendoza, click here and here.

To learn more about the archaeology program at CSUMB, click here.

To view a video featuring Dr. Mendoza and his hands-on archaeology class preparing to dig into the past at Soledad Mission, click here.