Florida Archaeology Month 2019: Shared Collections, Shared Stories
Happy Florida Archaeology Month!
This year's theme is Shared Collections, Shared Stories and focuses on collections that are accessible to the public through various means: digitally, on display in person or open to researchers. Every artifact has a story to tell us about the past and it's important for us to make sure we share those stories.
The poster highlights the Key Marco Cat, found by Frank Cushing during excavations on Marco Island in 1896. Since that time, the Smithsonian in Washington, DC has curated the artifact. But this January, the cat made it's way home to the Marco Island Historical Museum, on loan for a 3-year exhibit, which also features other statues and artifacts from the site from institutions across the US.
We're also highlighting other collections, many of which are managed by the State of Florida, that are accessible to the public in various ways. Here's a couple from Florida's east coast.
Maple Leaf Shipwreck
The Maple Leaf was a Union supply ship that sunk in the St. Johns River in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville. The ship was loaded with 400 tons of cargo - everything from military supplies to footlockers and personal effects of soldiers. The ship hit an underwater mine in 1864 and sunk in a matter of minutes. Because the shipwreck was never salvaged historically, the tons of cargo were still aboard when discovered by an amateur archaeologist in the 1980s.
Artifacts from the shipwreck were donated to the State and are on display in several locations: the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee, the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, and the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society - just a few hundred feet away from the ship's final resting place.
1715 Fleet Wrecks
This fleet of Spanish ships wrecked off the coast of Florida on it's way back to Spain carrying trade goods like furs and leather good, raw materials from the new world including chocolate and tobacco, as well as silver and gold mined in the Spanish colonies. Unfortunately, a hurricane struck the fleet and sank eleven of the twelve ships along what's today known as Florida's Treasure Coast.
Many of these artifacts are now available as 3D models to view online or even download and print! Check out this website for more information and to see the models.
Stop by an upcoming event in the Northeast or East Central Regions to get a poster or bookmark. You can also check out the FAM website for more information on shared collections as well as for events from across the state!
Words by Emily Jane Murray, FPAN staff; images by Becky O'Sullivan, FPAN staff.
This year's theme is Shared Collections, Shared Stories and focuses on collections that are accessible to the public through various means: digitally, on display in person or open to researchers. Every artifact has a story to tell us about the past and it's important for us to make sure we share those stories.
The poster highlights the Key Marco Cat, found by Frank Cushing during excavations on Marco Island in 1896. Since that time, the Smithsonian in Washington, DC has curated the artifact. But this January, the cat made it's way home to the Marco Island Historical Museum, on loan for a 3-year exhibit, which also features other statues and artifacts from the site from institutions across the US.
We're also highlighting other collections, many of which are managed by the State of Florida, that are accessible to the public in various ways. Here's a couple from Florida's east coast.
Maple Leaf Shipwreck
The Maple Leaf was a Union supply ship that sunk in the St. Johns River in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville. The ship was loaded with 400 tons of cargo - everything from military supplies to footlockers and personal effects of soldiers. The ship hit an underwater mine in 1864 and sunk in a matter of minutes. Because the shipwreck was never salvaged historically, the tons of cargo were still aboard when discovered by an amateur archaeologist in the 1980s.
Artifacts from the shipwreck were donated to the State and are on display in several locations: the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee, the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, and the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society - just a few hundred feet away from the ship's final resting place.
1715 Fleet Wrecks
This fleet of Spanish ships wrecked off the coast of Florida on it's way back to Spain carrying trade goods like furs and leather good, raw materials from the new world including chocolate and tobacco, as well as silver and gold mined in the Spanish colonies. Unfortunately, a hurricane struck the fleet and sank eleven of the twelve ships along what's today known as Florida's Treasure Coast.
Many of these artifacts are now available as 3D models to view online or even download and print! Check out this website for more information and to see the models.
Stop by an upcoming event in the Northeast or East Central Regions to get a poster or bookmark. You can also check out the FAM website for more information on shared collections as well as for events from across the state!
Words by Emily Jane Murray, FPAN staff; images by Becky O'Sullivan, FPAN staff.