June 5, 2007
Bones in the lake
A drought that has bared parts of the bed of Florida's largest lake has exposed human bone fragments, pottery and even boats -- and archaeologists are trying to evaluate the artifacts before water levels rise again.Full article here.Archaeologists said there have been no large-scale digs in Lake Okeechobee; most of the finds have been easily spotted along the surface, some by passers-by who called in what they found.
Palm Beach County Archaeologist Chris Davenport said scores of bone fragments ranging from only a few inches to 8 inches long have been spotted in Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest freshwater lake in the continental U.S., behind Lake Michigan. The lake is at its lowest level since record keeping began in 1932, at about 8.96 feet deep on Monday. That's about 4 to 5 feet below normal, exposing many areas for the first time in years.
Posted by David on June 5, 2007 10:36 AM
It seemed odd reading the full article and discover that there is no concerted effort to salvage the discoveries or more fully evaluate them. Rather the archeologist is quoted as staing that he hope the water returns to cover the new discovery and "protect them." Two things to concider. If the sites have been exposed, they are already impacted and should be salvaged if worthwhile. If exposed, potential looters can record the locations and even if the water reurns, the materials can be removed. I was especially concerned by the lack of enthusiasm about the human remains. Although fragmentary, the archeologist still recorded them as human, so one must assume they are diagnostic enough for that determination. There is certainly information to be gained, and material to be preserved. A task half done is not done.
Posted by: Donald Wolberg on June 10, 2007 3:19 AM
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