Digging Miami

Description

The pace of change of Miami since its incorporation in 1896 is staggering. In a mere hundred years the forests stretching into the Everglades have been decimated and sweet water pouring out of the Miami River has been polluted. We have reshaped the landscape| bulldozing almost every square foot in the county. The area that was home to several thousand Tequesta is now congested with roads and millions of people. Skyscrapers rise above ancient sites and artificial lights dominate the night sky.Ironically| even as Miami’s development continually erases traces of indigenous people and historic pioneers it also unearths 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 Miami-Dade County’s first county archaeologist| later historic preservation director| and held the position at a time when redevelopment efforts unearthed dozens of important archaeological sites| including the Cutler Site| discovered in 1985| and the once controversial Miami Circle| found in 1998. “Digging Miami “presents a unique anatomy of this fascinating city| dispelling the myth that its history is little more than 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 that these searches have 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 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. Robert S. Carr is executive director of the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy| a nonprofit dedicated to the investigation and preservation of archaeological and historical sites across Florida and the Bahamas.