Archaeology

Photos provided by Natalie De La Torre Salas

National Hispanic heritage month expands through archaeology

Elizabeth Andarge

As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we turn our attention to one Floridian who’s leading the effort to preserve Latin American communities through archaeology.

A close up photograph of an image depicting the native Ortona civilization. This and other interpretative drawings can be found at Ortona Indian Mound Park's pavilion explaining the indigenous history of Ortona in Glades County.

Cultural Affairs

Forgotten Park Episode 3: Unearthing Secrets

Tara Calligan

Ortona Indian Mound Park in Glades County may be known for its annual Cane Grinding Festival, yet the legacy of the park’s land dates back to A.D. 400, revealing life of an advanced, ancient civilization.

Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park features tree islands, often with archeological sites on them

Environment

Some of climate change's future effects will be on the past

Tom Bayles

When discussing climate change, the conversation is usually about what’s to come, as in how much seas will rise or how high temperatures will get. Far less common is what happened yesterday, who lived where, and how climate change will affect the artifacts they left behind.

The people who constructed Fort San Antón de Carlos had to adapt to Mound Key’s unique conditions, researchers said. The fort is the only Spanish structure built atop a shell mound in Florida.

Encore: New Research Confirms a Spanish Fort was Built on Mound Key in the 16th Century

John Davis

In recognition of March being designated Florida Archaeology Month, we’re listening back to a conversation with archeologist William Marquardt, Ph.D., about his findings published in the journal “Historical Archeology,” confirming the existence of Spanish fort built on Mound Key in Estero Bay in 1566. Mound Key was the capitol of the Calusa Native American tribe which dominated the region and had occupied Southwest Florida for more than 1,000 years at that time.

Woolly Mammoths in Cape Coral?

Mike Kiniry

On Thursday of this week the City of Cape Coral is going to be presenting a fossil bone to the Cape Coral Historical Museum during a reception hosted by…

Hundreds Of Calusa Artifacts Unearthed By Irma To Be Curated By Museum

Quincy J Walters

Florida’s Public Archaeological Network archaeologist Rachael Kangas surveyed the damage Irma caused to Otter Mound Preserve — 2 acres of land that was…

Author Makes the Case for Florida's Springs as Archaeological Anchor

Matthew F Smith

The state of Florida is dotted with natural springs that have attracted visitors since long before they became 1950’s roadside attractions. And while many…

Texas Archaeology Team Dives to Assess Florida's Unique Underwater Site

Matthew F Smith

An underwater archaeology site on the bed of the Silver River, in the Silver Springs State Park near Ocala, is home to mammoth bones and other ancient…

Curious Gulf Coast Asks: What Motivated Early Settlers of South Florida?

Matthew F Smith

What motivated early Floridians to move into the swampy, mosquito-infested area of South Florida? How did the Seminoles and other Native American peoples…

'Old Vero' Dig Unearths Answers to Centuries-old Questions

Matthew F Smith

The oldest human remains in North America were found in South Florida at the Old Vero dig site near modern-day Vero Beach. This winter, researchers are…