In this presentation archaeologist and historian Richard L Carrico will discuss his latest book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City, in which he explores San Diego’s first European settlement. Founded in 1769, the ruins of upper California’s first mission and fort lie buried beneath the landscaped hills in Presidio Park. Mr. Carrico’s extensive research on the presidio and its people include materials from Spanish archives housed in Mexico City and at Berkeley, Kumeyaay oral tradition, and nearly a decade of archaeological excavation at the site—he directed two seasons himself. In this talk, Mr. Carrico will discuss the men, women, and children who lived and died at the presidio.

Richard Carrico is an Army veteran and award-winning author of non-fiction and historical fiction on eclectic topics including Indigenous people, Spanish colonial history, archaeology, and, most recently, true crime. He grew up in San Diego, California, and received a BA in history from San Diego State College, a BA in anthropology from San Diego State University, and an MA in history from the University of San Diego. Mr. Carrico taught history, anthropology, and Native American studies at San Diego State University for 30 years before retiring in 2024.