Digging Miami

Unearthing the rich 11,000-year human heritage of the Miami area Thepace of change of Miami since its incorporation in 1896 is staggering. Theseaside land that once was home to several thousand Tequesta is now congestedwith roads and millions of people while skyscrapers and artificial lightsdominate the landscape. Ironically, Miami's development both continually erasesmonuments and traces of Indigenous people and historic pioneers yet also leadsto the discovery of archaeological treasures that have lain undiscovered forcenturies.In Digging Miami, Robert Carrtraces the rich 11,000-year human heritage of the Miami area from the time ofits first inhabitants through the arrival of European settlers and up to theearly twentieth century. Carr was Dade County's first archaeologist, laterhistoric preservation director, and held the position at a time whenredevelopment efforts unearthed dozens of impressive archaeological sites,including the Cutler Site, discovered in 1985, and the Miami Circle, found in1998. Digging Miami presentsa unique anatomy of this fascinating city, dispelling the myth that its historyis merely a century old.This comprehensive synthesis of South Florida's archaeological record willastonish readers with the depth of information available throughout an areabarely above sea level. Likewise, many will be surprised to learn that modernbuilders, before beginning construction, must first look for signs of ancientpeoples' lives, and this search has led to the discovery of over one hundredsites within the county in recent years. In the end, we are left with therealization that Miami is more than the dream of entrepreneurs to create atourist 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 Sustainingthe Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the NationalEndowment for the Humanities. Read more