Digging Miami
About this book
Unearthing the rich 11,000-year human heritage of the Miami area
The pace of change of Miami since its incorporation in 1896 is staggering. The seaside land that once was home to several thousand Tequesta is now congested with roads and millions of people while skyscrapers and artificial lights dominate the landscape. Ironically, Miami's development both continually erases monuments and traces of Indigenous people and historic pioneers yet also leads to the discovery of archaeological treasures that have lain undiscovered for centuries.
In Digging Miami, Robert Carr traces the rich 11,000-year human heritage of the Miami area from the time of its first inhabitants through the arrival of European settlers and up to the early twentieth century. Carr was Dade County's first archaeologist, later historic preservation director, and held the position at a time when redevelopment efforts unearthed dozens of impressive archaeological sites, including the Cutler Site, discovered in 1985, and the Miami Circle, found in 1998. Digging Miami presents a unique anatomy of this fascinating city, dispelling the myth that its history is merely a century old.
This comprehensive synthesis of South Florida's archaeological record will
astonish readers with the depth of information available throughout an area
barely above sea level. Likewise, many will be surprised to learn that modern
builders, before beginning construction, must first look for signs of ancient
peoples' lives, and this search has led to the discovery of over one hundred
sites within the county in recent years. In the end, we are left with the
realization that Miami is more than the dream of entrepreneurs to create a
tourist mecca built on top of dredged rock and sand; it is a fascinating,
vibrant spot that has drawn humans to its shores for unimaginable years.
Publication of the paperback edition made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface: More than Just Seashells
- 1. Diggers, Scientists, and Antiquarians: History of Archaeological Research
- Part I: Prehistoric Miami
- Part II: Failed Settlements: The European Legacy
- Part III: Seminole Legacy
- Part IV: Pioneer Miami
- Part V: Urban Archaeology: A Past with a Future
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- References Cited
- Index