Event Details

PAST Monthly Meeting

Time: 7:00 pm til 8:00 pm

Location: Governor Martin House/Bureau of Archaeological Research

Description: Florida’s First Campers: The Significance of the Ryan-Harley Paleoindian Site

In May of 1996, Ryan and Harley Means discovered and reported a significant archaeological site to the State of Florida. Archaeological investigations conducted at the site in 1999 revealed an undisturbed Middle Paleoindian (~13,000-12,000 years B.P.) layer believed to represent a prehistoric campsite. Over 1,000 artifacts were recovered in less than 4 square meters, including stone tools and animal bones believed to have been discarded by prehistoric people. Amongst the artifacts discarded by Ryan-Harley’s Ice Age occupants, several spear points known as Suwannee points were recovered. Little is known about the Suwannee culture and Ryan-Harley is one of only two intact Suwannee sites in the Southeast United States. In 2015, investigations were renewed by Morgan Smith and Michael Waters from the Center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M University. These excavations were aimed at better understanding the geologic context of the site, nature of the archaeological assemblage, and the Suwannee point making people who lived there.

Morgan will present on the results of these investigat

FPAN is attending this event.