While much has been written about the natural history of Florida’s Everglades, this is the first comprehensive study of its human history. It was originally prepared as a report for the National Park Service in 1988 by John W. Griffin, a pioneer in Florida archaeology. James L. Miller, Florida’s state archaeologist, and Jerald T. Milanich, of the Florida Museum of Natural History, have transformed Griffin’s report into a comprehensive overview of Everglades archaeology for scholars and the general public. This is an important book about a natural World Heritage site that also has a rich human heritage.
Native Americans occupied the Everglades relatively late, around 2,000 B.C. But they flourished for more than 3,700 years before succumbing to the effects of the European invasion. They include the builders of America’s most famous archaeological site, the Miami Circle, as well as mounds surrounded by water and grass. The Calusa on the west coast built miles of canals and resisted Spanish colonization for some 200 years. As Florida and the nation embark on a massive financial commitment to preserve the region, this volume will be a guide to its rich Native past.
