I just may have one of the most interesting jobs around town. I am a Certified Archaeological Monitor which is a part of my job with FPAN, Northeast Region at Flagler College. My responsibilities involve visiting and evaluating potential archaeological sites in our seven county Northeast Florida region. I can determine if the sites should be listed on the Florida Master Site File (FMSF). How did I get such an interesting job and earn that monitor moniker? First, I had to be trained.
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| ARM Training with Mary Glowacki |
Archaeological Resource Management Course (ARM Training)
The Florida Department of State, Bureau of Archaeological Research, offers a course in how to document archaeological sites. Florida contains some of the most significant archaeological sites in North America. The State is responsible for managing and conserving these important sites and recording them on the Florida Master Site File (FMSF). But the State needs Florida’s citizens to help recognize, document and protect our archeological heritage. The Florida Master Site File has served since the early 1970’s as a clearing house for information on the cultural resources of the State. It is the State equivalent of the National Register of Historic Places. Last January I was sent to Tallahassee to participate in three days of ARM training to learn how to record archaeological sites on the FMSF.
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| Kevin Porter conducting ARM training in the field |
The trainers at the State Division of Archaeological Research are friendly and supportive, know their stuff and teach it well. Besides learning about the specific forms and procedures to record a site, we learned about Florida laws and policies protecting cultural resources, the organization and staffing of the State Division of Historical Resources, and Florida history and important archaeological sites in Florida. We even spent a day in the field learning how to conduct preliminary archaeological surveys to assist in evaluating the significance of archaeological resources.
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Toni learning archaeological survey methods |
And we got a wonderful tour of State collections and the conservation labs in Tallahassee.
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| James Levy training in the collections & conservation lab |
After completing the three days of training and submission of five take home assignments, I received my official state certification. I am now approved to record archaeological sites, and historic cemeteries, structures and landscapes. In the last several months, I have visited and recorded a number of cemeteries in Nassua, Putnam, Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties. I’ve also recorded one historic landscape and several archaeological sites. If future development is proposed near any of these cultural resources, there will be a record of their location and significance.
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| Certificate from completion of ARM training. |
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| Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Beach |
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| Toni Wallace and B. J. Miller examine a well. |
So if you are aware of a possible archaeological site, old cemetery, historic building or landscape, give me a call. I'll check to see if it is already recorded. If not, I'll come out and we can work together to record and protect our wonderful archaeological and historic resources in northeast Florida. You can reach me, Toni Wallace, at the FPAN-NE office at Flagler College, (904)819-6404 or
twallace@flagler.edu.
For more information also check out the Division of Historical Resources training page:
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/archaeology/education/training/arm.cfm
