Charlotte Harbor shipwreck survey for 2005.

Abstract

This report summarizes a remote-sensing archaeological survey undertaken by Mote Marine Laboratory of contact period, colonial and American archaeological sites in Manatee, Charlotte, Lee, and DeSoto counties of central and southwest Florida. Project methodology included a background review of archaeological, historical and environmental data, field survey, and data reduction, analysis and interpretation. Project archaeologists investigated 400 hectares (1 ,000 acres) through remote sensing, including seven previously reported archaeological sites. Detected anomalies were ranked in terms of priority for future ground truthing. The project located two potentially significant archaeological sites in need of additional assessment, and probably eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. One of these is perhaps the oldest industrial site in south Florida, while the other constitutes extensive undisturbed remains of a late-19th -century railway dock facility. The Nautical Archaeology Program will investigate underwater archaeological sites and interpret them to the public through the Mote Aquarium located in Sarasota. Mote's long-term goal is to supplement the ecological displays already in existence with cultural interpretive material that will explain how humans used the water systems, which other Mote scientists have studied from a biological perspective.