Waterlogged archaeological sites in Florida contain tools, art objects, dietary items, human skeletal remains, and glimpses of past environments that do not survive the ravages of time at typical terrestrial sites. Unfortunately, archaeological wet sites are invisible since their preservation depends upon their entombment in oxygen-free, organic deposits. As a result, they are often destroyed accidentally during draining, dredging, and development projects. These sites and the objects they contain are an important part of Florida's heritage. They provide an opportunity to learn how the state's earliest residents used available resources to make their lives more comfortable and how they expressed themselves artistically. Without the wood carvings from water-saturated sites, it would be easy to think of early Floridians as culturally impoverished because Florida does not have stone suitable for creating sculptures. This book compiles in one volume detailed accounts of such famous sites as Key Marco, Little Salt Spring, Windover, Ft. Center, and others. The book discusses wet site environments and explains the kinds of physical, chemical, and structural components required to ensure that the proper conditions for site formation are present and prevail through time. The book also talks about how to preserve artifacts that have been entombed in anaerobic deposits and the importance of classes of objects, such as wooden carvings, dietary items, human skeletal remains, to our better understanding of past cultures. Until now this information has been scattered in obscure documents and articles, thus diminishing its importance. Our ancestors may not have been Indians, but they contributed to the state's heritage for more than 10,000 years. Once disturbed by ambitious dredging and draining projects, their story is gone forever; it cannot be transplanted to another location.
Author(s): Barbara A. Purdy
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 1991
Language: English
Pages: 336
City: Boca Raton
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
1: INTRODUCTION
2: WET SITE ENVIRONMENTS
Introduction
The Organic Soils of Florida
Composition of Underlying Deposits
Climate
Vegetation
Chemical Composition
Peats vs. Mucks
The Model
Summary Comments
3: FLORIDA’S ARCHAEOLOGICAL WET SITES
Introduction
Key Marco
Excavation and Stratigraphy
Chronology
Flora and Fauna
Preservation
Frank Hamilton Cushing
Comments
Bay West
Introduction
Methodology
Environment
Fauna
Flora
Human Skeletal Remains
Artifacts
Age of the Site
Discussion
Belle Glade
Introduction
Excavations and Stratigraphy
Fauna and F lora
Artifacts
Human Remains
Discussion
Fort Center
Introduction
Excavations
Wood
Preservation
Human Remains
Pollen Analysis
Fauna
Discussion
Hontoon Island
Introduction
Excavations and Stratigraphy
Fauna
Flora
Human Remains
Artifacts
Chronology
Preservation
Discussion
Little Salt Spring
Introduction
Flora
Fauna
Human Remains
Discussion
Page-Ladson
Introduction
Excavations and Stratigraphy
Palynology and Paleobotany
Fauna
Artifacts and Chronology
Discussion
Republic Groves
Introduction
Excavation Procedures
Artifacts
Radiocarbon Analysis
Human Remains
Discussion
Warm Mineral Springs
Introduction
Stratigraphy and Chronology
Archaeological Excavations
Human Remains
Faunal Remains
Botanical Remains
Artifacts
Archaeologist vs. Amateur
Present Location of Materials Taken from Warm Mineral Springs
Windover
Introduction
Excavations
Stratigraphy and Chronology
Floral Remains
Faunal Remains
Human Remains
Artifacts
Discussion
Other Sites and Wooden Artifacts
Tick Island
Lake Monroe
Similar Sites
Single Wooden Artifacts
Other Wooden Artifacts
Comment
4: FLORIDA CANOES: A MARITIME HERITAGE FROM THE PAST
Introduction
Present State of Knowledge
Significance
Summary
5: PRESERVATION OF ORGANIC MATERIALS FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL WET SITES
Introduction
Waterlogged Woods and Their Environments
Preservation of Waterlogged Wood
Polyethylene Glycol
Freeze-Drying
Wood Preservation in Florida
Additional Comments about Preservation of Archaeological Specimens from Wet Sites
Index
