Beginning on September 16, the Public Archaeology Lab at New College of Florida and Time Sifters Archaeology Society, with funding from the Florida Humanities Council, will present five lectures at New College on topics addressing Florida archaeology and anthropological issues. The talks are free and open to the public.
The series, entitled “Traces of Our Past: Florida’s History Through Archaeology,” runs through May 2010 on the third Wednesday of every other month in the Mildred Sainer Pavilion on the New College campus, 5313 Bay Shore Road, between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. The dates are September 16, November 18, January 20, March 17 and May 19. Guest speakers represent the University of Florida, University of South Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History and the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
Time Sifters Archaeology Society was formed in 1986 and is dedicated to preservation, education and research. Since its inception, the society has assisted trained archaeologists in major Calusa Indian digs, participated in creating the unique Window to the Past exhibit at Historic Spanish Point, sponsored and/or participated in outreach programs Trail of the Lost Tribes and Looking for Angola, and provided significant support contributing to the preservation of local archaeological resources.
The New College Public Archaeology Laboratory (NCPAL) is committed to facilitating education, outreach and the study of archaeology within a broader anthropological and interdisciplinary context. As both a physical space and intellectual project curated by New College students and faculty, NCPAL is dedicated to the ethical advancement of knowledge about past human cultures and societies in order to engage with social issues of the present. Utilizing the rich resources of the region’s diverse communities, NCPAL produces and disseminates valuable knowledge of our shared cultural heritage.
Due to limited seating, reservations are highly recommended. Contact the New College Events Office at (941) 487-4888 or email [email protected]. More information is available at ncf.edu/performance-lecture-series.
TRACES OF OUR PAST: FLORIDA’S HISTORY THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY
2009-2010 Schedule
Presented by New College of Florida and Time Sifters Archaeological Society with funding from the Florida Humanities Council
| September 16 at 6 pm Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road – Free Coping with Rising Water in Florida for 12,000 Years Kenneth E. Sassaman, University of Florida As debate continues over the causes of global warming, the consequences of rising water levels are very real. By the end of this century, if current rates of change continue, much of the modern coastline will be inundated and near-shore aquifers infiltrated by seawater. These sorts of challenges for humans and the resource on which they depend are nothing new to Floridians. Encased in the archaeological record of ancient Floridians are lessons that may help us cope with our own environmental challenges. |
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| November 18 at 6 pm Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road – Free Archaeology in the Archives: The Seminole Indian Photographs of Julian Dimock, 1905-1910 Jerry Milanich, Florida Museum of Natural History Archaeologists in Florida don’t always dig in the dirt. We also uncover information in libraries, museums, and archives that can inform and enhance archaeological discoveries and our understanding of the past. Such is the case with nearly 2000 glass negatives found in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Taken by former New York stockbroker Julian Dimock, the collection of fascinating Florida images includes more than 200 of Seminole Indians taken between 1905 and 1910. |
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| January 20 at 6 pm Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road Free Archaeology of the Unconquered People Brent Weisman, University of South Florida Florida’s Seminole and Miccosukee Indians have been in the public eye in recent years as their economic success with casino gaming continues to make the news. Many people are aware that the Seminoles and Miccosukees lived in Florida before the modern day, but the richness of their history and culture and their connection to the land are not widely known and appreciated. The work of archaeologists tells us much about how these native Floridians survived, succeeded and ultimately triumphed through the years of war with the U.S. to emerge as Florida’s “Unconquered People.” |
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| March 17 at 6 pm Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road Free Ancient Art of Florida’s Native People Barbara Purdy, University of Florida Prior to approximately 4,000 years ago, aboriginal Floridians used only bone or wood to create images of the animals they hunted or the deities they feared and revered. Ceramic technology had not been introduced yet and suitable stone for carving or incising does not occur in Florida. The speaker will show examples of native art produced in bone and wood, and discuss the unfortunate consequences resulting from the loss of information about Florida’s native people, as most of the organic components of their way of life have not survived. |
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| May 19 at 6 pm Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road – Free Discovering Civil War Florida William Lees, Florida Public Archaeology Network Using state of the art scientific tools, old fashioned dirt |
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