Dr. Julie Stein, director of the Burke Museum at the University of Washington, will discuss archaeological investigations of ancient cultures at American Camp and San Juan Island in a guided walk Saturday, 10 a.m., at South Beach.

The walk is free. Participants meet at Alaska Packers Rock, located at the end of the gravel access road that parallels the beach. Because of limited parking, attendees should plan to park in the main beach parking area at the end of Pickett’s Lane and walk to the meeting point.

As the walk will cover a portion of the prairie above the beach, walkers should wear sturdy, comfortable shoes.

Stein is the author of “Exploring Coast Salish Prehistory: The Archaeology of the San Juan Islands” (University of Washington Press), which examines Coast Salish culture through excavations conducted by U.W. crews at American and English camps going back to the early 1950s.

Her talk will focus on ancient life at South Beach, which included hunting and gathering, camping, several forms of fishing, and cultivation of camas and other root foods. She also will discuss evidence of life at American Camp going back as far as 8,000 years.