THE MAGICAL SPRINGS OF OLD FLORIDA (Presentation Description Provided by Speaker) “As I traveled the state while working on my book, Finding the Fountain of Youth, I observed that many Florida springs shared a similar history. First, the Native Americans who inhabited the state considered the pristine waters of springs…
MARKS OF IDENTITY: THE ETHNOBOTANY OF TATTOOING The resurgence of interest in traditional tattooing, as well as concern about the safety of commercial inks, has led to a search for “natural,” “traditional,” products for tattoos. Scientific techniques for visualizing and analyzing ancient tattoos preserved on mummified human remains have been…
EARLY SPANISH CONTACT IN THE NEW WORLD On October 8, we welcome Florida Museum of Natural History Curator and Professor, Dr. Charles Cobb, who will present a program on one of his research projects titled, “The Remains of the Fray: Native American Re-purposing of Spanish Expedition Objects”. He will discuss…
FINDING LUCY – OUR 3.5 MILLION-YEAR-OLD ANCESTOR The 1972 and 1973 International Afar Research Expeditions were groundbreaking in what they discovered. The presentation on September 10 by Gene Dole will discuss his personal involvement in the expeditions, the formation of the first truly multinational paleontological research team, the geological background…
BIOARCHAEOLOGY OF MONASTICISM: THE UNRULY NUNS OF CYPRUS This month we welcome FGCU visiting professor, forensic anthropologist Xenia Kyriakou who will present a program on one of her research projects titled, “Bioarchaeology of Monasticism: the unruly nuns of Cyprus.” The presentation will cover the discovery of the human remains from…
FLORIDA’S ARCHAIC AND MANASOTA PERIOD POPULATIONS: DISTANT COUSINS OR UNRELATED NEIGHBORS ? We welcome back bio archaeologist and forensic archaeologist Maranda Kles to our April 9 meeting. With the discovery of the submerged burial site off Manasota Key, there has been a surge of interest in the relationships of pre-contact Native American…
NEW DISCOVERIES OF THE EVERGLADES LANDSCAPE: LOST CREEKS AND PREHISTORIC SITES Archaeological testing of agricultural fields in the eastern Everglades has resulted in the discovery of creeks and prehistoric sites buried beneath the muck. This creek system had been previously unknown and was undetected during earlier assessments. Aerial photographs taken…
THE MAKING OF ESCAMPABA: THE KINGDOM OF CARLOS Remnants of elevated mounds and ridges, sculpted canals and water courts remain a visible yet subtle reminder of the once thriving Calusa chiefdom that controlled the southern third of the Florida peninsula by the 16th century. Mound Key — the Calusa principal village, located…
THE SCIENCE AND ART OF READING BONES On January 8, 2019 we welcome Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Heather Walsh Haney for a presentation titled “The Science and Art of Reading Bones.” Dr. Walsh-Haney is an Associate Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University who studied at the University of Florida under Dr….
THE PREHISTORY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY Similar to Sarasota County, Palm Beach County has a Historical Preservation Element in their Comprehensive Plan and includes an Archaeological and Historic Preservation Ordinance in their Unified Land Development Code. Mr. Davenport will give an overview of the prehistory of Palm Beach County in…
GEOLOGIC HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF WARM MINERAL SPRINGS AND LITTLE SALT SPRINGS Warm Mineral Springs and Little Salt Springs are well known for their warm mineralized water and importance ecologically, archaeologically, and recreationally. The intimate relationship between land and sea have sculpted these features which represent unique geologic entities whose…
CLAY SOURCING BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLE OF FLORIDA Educator, ceramic researcher, WMS/LSSAS member Ted Ehmann, will give a presentation on a research passion that led to a paper he has submitted for publication in the Florida Anthropologist “Investigating The Existence Of Clay Beds Sourced By The Aboriginal People For Ceramic Production…
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY OF THREE LOYALIST PLANTATIONS SAN SALVADOR ISLAND, BAHAMAS During the 1970’s archaeological studies were made of three slave plantations on the island of San Salvador in The Bahamas. These were the first systematic studies of Loyalist plantations in The Bahamas, and provided extensive information about the way of…
HISTORY AT THE WATER’S EDGE About 7,200 years old and buried 21 feet deep below the Gulf of Mexico, 350 yards off Manasota Key is an extremely well preserved human burial site. Archaeologists are exploring what has been termed a “globally significant” discovery. National Geographic calls it an “unprecedented” find….
INDIAN MOUNDS OF THE CAPE CANAVERAL SEASHORE Zooarchaeologist Irvy Quitmyer is a long-time researcher at the Florida Museum, and was collection manager from 2001-2016. His work focuses on the animal remains from sites in southeastern North America and the circum-Caribbean region. Quitmyer’s research specialty is the study of season of…
PALEO AND PASTEL: ANTHROPOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE PALM BEACHES Pre-Columbian and historic Palm Beach County is the topic of our February 13 meeting by anthropologist and archaeologist Dorothy Block. Using archival photographs from the Lawrence E. Will Museum of the Glades, and scholarly sources, Block presents a survey of…
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE STEWARDSHIP THROUGH HERITAGE MONITORING Join us to learn about a new program initiated by the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN). Jeff Moates, director of the FPAN West Central Region office at USF will discuss the “Heritage Monitoring Scouts” program. Heritage Monitoring Scouts (HMS Florida) is a public engagement…
HAUTE COUTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE: THE SPECTACULAR WORLD OF ARIADNE AND HELEN OF TROY This lecture brings to life the fabulous world of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations of 2000-1200 B.C.E. immortalized by Homer. By stepping through time into their splendid palaces decorated with scenes of courtly life, their special…
THE WEDGWORTH MIDDEN FIELD SCHOOL & EXCAVATION The Wedgworth Midden is a tree-island site located in Belle Glade, Florida; just south of Lake Okeechobee. This site, along with other tree-island sites, plays a significant role in the analysis of prehistoric life in the everglades. The Wedgworth Midden provides insight to…
WHERE DID COLUMBUS FIRST LAND IN 1492? THE DESCRIPTIVE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE For nearly 500 years there was controversy among scholars and lay people over the exact location of Columbus’ first landfall on his maiden voyage in 1492. A review of historic documents, maps, and descriptive photos will be discussed…