Bay Area Ice Age by Karen Carr

Join anthropologist Alex Coburn as he takes us back in Deep Time. Following animal migration routes, Olompali's first residents settled on the North Bay's western shoreline when the present San Francisco Bay began to form about 8000 years ago. Melting glaciers caused sea level to rise and flooded the Bay floor, and in time, Olompali became the largest settlement on the North Bay's western shoreline.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026

Time: 10 am to 12 noon

Place: Olompali State Historic Park--meet in the parking lot then we will move to shady areas along the old carriage road near historic buildings

Bring: sun protection, water, snacks

About your guide:

Alex Coburn is an anthropologist and safari guide specializing in the relationship between humans and the natural world. He began his career with California State Parks and worked on the archeological dig in 2016 near the frontage road by Olompali. His work explores a central question: how have humans shaped and been shaped by the landscapes they inhabit?