Mike Carpenter will discuss the Spanish exploration and occupation in North Carolina (1521 – 1587); discovery and excavation of the Spanish settlement of Cuenca and Fort San Juan in Burke County; and public opportunities made available by the Exploring Joara Foundation. Mike Carpenter is a native of Catawba County, and has helped with excavations at the Berry Site in Burke County since 2007. He served as a staff member of the Berry Site Archaeology Field School in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He has also helped with excavations at both the Town Creek Indian Mound in Montgomery County and the Carson House in McDowell County. He is on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Archaeological Society and the Exploring Joara Foundation. The Exploring Joara Foundation educates and engages the public through hands-on archaeology and history programs, events, and opportunities to discover our diverse cultural and historical past with a focus on Native American and early colonial history. Exploring Joara is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. $5 for museum members, $10 for the public.