Abstract
This volume documents the current state of research into the first Floridians. With contributions by a number of prominent southeastern archaeologists, this book offers an engaging and comprehensive synthesis of current research on the Paleoindian time period, while also touching upon the Early Archaic period. The book is divided into three main sections: the past, present, and future archaeological studies of early Floridians; the application of these studies in a broader context; and recent technological advances in research. Elements of each broader theme can be found throughout the chapters, making it evident that the future study of these early people relies on finding new sites underwater and re-evaluating old sites using combinations of geology, hydrology, technology, and innovative methods of analysis to better understand past lifeways and processes.
The first section of this book establishes that underwater research and the re-evaluation of past sites, both underwater and terrestrial, hold the key into Florida’s early past. In Chapter 1, Thulman brings attention to the need to locate underwater sites that contain preserved intact sediments. Faught expands upon this in Chapter 2 by documenting his experiences with underwater archaeology off the Gulf coast of Florida, proposing working from the known to the unknown to help locate sites. In Chapter 3, Halligan brings further attention to the necessity of also relying on the earth sciences, and the importance of establishing chronologies to more fully understand the Paleoindian time period. The section then shifts to provide examples of the benefits of re-evaluating past sites. In Chapter 4, Hemmings describes how the re-evaluation of the terrestrial Vero site provides information about extinct taxa and the paleo-landscape, while in Chapter 5, Smith explains the methods he used to locate the previously excavated underwater Guest Mammoth site, outlines the recent surveys, and makes conclusions regarding site use.
The second section applies current research to a broader context, including the expansion of research locations and topics, comparing artifacts across regions, and even the broader social context within which this research occurs. In Chapter 6, Dunbar and Thulman discuss the search for sites on the southeastern continental shelf, and how locating these sites may help understand the initial colonization of the New World. In the following chapter, Thulman uses lithic morphology to examine how the predicate form can help infer regional networks of social relationships. In Chapter 8, Glowacki and Dunbar discuss illegal collecting in Florida and provide recommendations for how to address this issue. In the concluding chapter of this section, Marrinan and Peres explain why faunal remains should be given more attention in order to show the relationship between people and animals and aid in environmental reconstructions.
The third section addresses how technology can contribute to the study of the first Floridians. In Chapter 10, Garrison and Cook Hale evaluate the Econfina Channel site and use geoarchaeology to show how site formation processes affect site preservation, stressing the importance of understanding geologic processes prior to making interpretations. In the following chapter, Cook Hale explains and executes a holistic method of analyzing corroded lithics in order to not only distinguish between artifacts and geofacts but also extract information about the people who used them. In Chapter 12, De Smet and Smith evaluate the utility of ground penetrating radar and airborne bathymetric LiDAR in the discovery of underwater sites in comparison to the commonly used side-scan sonar and multibeam depth sounding techniques. In Chapter 13, Anderson et al. describe two databases, PIDBA (Paleoindian Database of the Americas) and DINAA (Digital Index of North American Archaeology), and discuss what has been learned from them, such as various trends over time and space.
This volume does a commendable job at addressing the question that often plagues archaeologists—what role does this research play in the present? The research presented throughout this book tackles questions such as the initial colonization of the New World, how past people reacted to climate change, and how people today may deal with it. It also briefly considers the role public archaeology plays in preserving these sites and cultural materials. Public archaeology is a crucial aspect of making archaeology relevant, and it is appreciated that Glowacki and Dunbar address the issue of illicit collecting in Florida and steps that can be taken to address it. This is a very relevant question that deserves more attention in the field of archaeology.
New Directions in the Search for the First Floridians offers a comprehensive summary of the different paths current research into the first Floridians has taken. Thulman and Garrison thread these chapters together in a way that presents creative and innovative research. This volume is relevant not only for those interested in Florida but also for those throughout the southeast region or any coastal area. The ideas and methods proposed throughout this book can be adapted or serve as a starting point for anyone interested in the study of these early people.