Earth Day at Koreshan Saturday April 24

We're looking forward to being at Koreshan State Historic Site for their Earth Day event on Saturday. It's a great, fascinating site to visit if you've never been, and the Earth Day exhibitors and events should make it well worth your while. Hope to see you there!

More information here

Michael Wylde on the Mound 5 Dig at Pineland

At the April 21 SWFAS meeting in Bonita Springs, Michael Wylde of Randell Research Center will talk about the excavation in Mound 5 of the Pineland site. The meeting begins at 7:30; coffee and snacks are available at 7.

As usual, the talk is free, open to the public and held at the Bonita Springs Community Hall, 27381 Old US-41 in Bonita Springs.

In late December 2009, the Randell Research Center was offered an opportunity to examine Mound 5 of the Brown’s Mound Complex on property adjacent to RRC. Brown’s Mound 1, the largest mound on the Pineland site, is thought to have been surrounded by five other mounds, forming a six mound “complex.” Mound 5 is indicated on a map drawn by Frank Hamilton Cushing in 1895, before twentieth-century land modifications began.

Walking Tour May 7, sign up now!

After a hectic Archaeology Month, we've been catching up on things in the office, but there's plenty coming in the days and weeks ahead. One of the things we're most excited about is the Florida Anthropological Society conference to be held in Fort Myers May 7-9 - our FPAN center is heavily involved with a lot of the conference organizing.

There will be a great public event - an archaeology walking tour of Downtown Fort Myers on May 7 at noon - you don't have to be participating in the conference to attend. Archaeologists Marion Almy and Lee Hutchinson of Archaeological Consultants, Inc. will be leading - an opportunity that doesn't come up every day. If you're working downtown and want to learn a little about what's underfoot, it is a great use of your lunch break!

Space is limited, so call to reserve a space, the tour is free! 239-765-0202 ext. 152.

Florida Frontier Days

Join us this Saturday, March 27 at the Florida Frontier Days Festival in Charlotte Harbor!

The FPAN Southwest Regional Center is excited to participate in the festival and provide information and kids' activities.

The event is put on by the Charlotte County Historical Center and held at Bayshore Live Oak Park in beautiful Charlotte Harbor. Each year, area school children, teachers, friends and families gather to experience traditional pioneer entertainment, old-fashioned games, hands-on activities and delicious frontier-style food. Period artisans work their crafts as visitors try their hand at old time activities such as candle-dipping, rug braiding, sock puppets and kite making. Games of sack race, tug o war, or horseshoes entertain as visitors listen to local musicians play traditional folk music. There’s something for everyone at the 14th annual Florida Frontier Days Festival. Admission tor the festival is just $ 3.00 for adults and $ 2.00 for children 12 and under. All proceeds benefit the Charlotte County Historical Center, its educational programs and exhibits.

Boat Tours to Mound Key

Mound House will be offering boat tours to Mound Key, the ancient capital city of the Calusa. Tours depart from Mound House (in Fort Myers Beach) on Thursday March 25 and Friday March 26 at 9:30 a.m., with archaeologist Theresa Schober giving a guided tour. Tickets are $40 per person, and proceeds benefit Mound House programming. Call Mound House at 239-765-0865 to make reservations.

On April 18, Friends of the Collier Museum will also offer a boat tour to Mound Key, leaving from Bonita Beach. Cost is $50 for members, $65 for non-members. For more information on this tour, call 239-252-8476 Monday through Friday 8am-5pm.

Irish Settlement and Identity talk March 17 at SWFAS

At the March 17 Southwest Florida Archaeological Society meeting (incidentally on St. Patrick’s Day), Julie Richko Labate, a Ph.D. candidate at University College in Dublin, Ireland, will talk about Irish settlement in Texas. The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Bonita Springs Community Hall, 27831 Old US-41, Bonita Springs. Join us at 7 for refreshments and socializing.

Julie Richko Labate, M.A., R.P.A., is a PhD candidate with the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. Julie earned her bachelor’s from Florida Atlantic University and master’s degree from Illinois State University in anthropology and archaeology, respectively. While attaining her PhD, she is currently living in South Florida and working as the Tribal Archaeologist for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

And don't forget Archaeology Day at the Collier Museum, this weekend, also co-hosted by SWFAS!

Archaeology Day at the Collier County Museum

Speeding right along with Archaeology Month events, join us March 20 at the Collier County Museum in Naples to hear local speakers on Florida Archaeology, meet FPAN staff, get your free Florida Archaeology Month Poster and bookmark, visit the Craighead Archaeological Lab and much more!