The history and archaeology of Buck Island’s ancient people will be the topic of a public lecture Dec. 13, part of a series celebrating Buck Island Reef’s 50th anniversary year as a national monument.

December’s lecture, "Buck Island’s Ancient Peoples Seen and Unseen: The Archaeology of Buck Island Reef NM," will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Danish Guinea West India Company Warehouse/Slave Market Building in Christiansted, the National Park Service announced.

The lecture features Meredith Hardy, an anthropologist and archaeologist of the NPS’ Southeast Archaeological Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

Hardy completed the first preliminary report on the archaeological resources at the island in 2006 and wrote her dissertation on the prehistory of St. Croix and its many different cultures a year later.

The Christiansted National Historic Site parking lot will be free and open for this event until 7 p.m.

The Thursday lecture series will continue into 2013 with new titles and some repeat sessions for those that missed earlier topics. The series will continue Jan. 10 with concession specialist Susan Duke’s talk about the history of Buck Island tourism and travel over the past 50 years.

Further information can be found on the National Park Services website, www.nps.gov.