The Alliance for Weedon Island Archaeological Research and Education (AWIARE) is a non-profit organization (501C3) that has as its goal to promote and facilitate long-term archaeological research, scientific exploration and public education at the Weedon Island Preserve and the gulf coast region. Our Officers and Advisory Board include professional archaeologists and lay persons who all share an interest in our mission. We have a reputation for sponsoring and facilitating significant archaeological research on the Weedon Island Preserve (WIP) by providing opportunities for scholars and students to pursue sustained scientific investigations of past human occupation.
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NOVEMBER 7, 2024 7PM EST
The Spanish Seminole: The Untold History of the Spanish Indians as Told by a Descendant
David Rahahę·tih Webb
GET ZOOM LINK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SPEAKERIn the 1700s, as Florida’s Indigenous tribes were displaced, the forebears of the Miccosukee and Seminole descended along the southwestern Gulf Coast. They soon began working with Hispanic-Latino and Indigenous fishermen from various Spanish colonies, who had seasonal operations along the barrier islands, including Sanibel. Eventually, these seasonal operations became prolific year-round fisheries and communities, incorporating the fishing practices previously learned from the 6,000-year-old Calusa culture. Their productive estuarine fisheries were called ranchos, which served the same significant commercial and cultural function that the deerskin trade did for their contemporaries. The author, David Rahahę·tih Webb, is adding to our understanding of the ranchos- writing from the perspective of a descendant. His direct ancestors, Juan and Mary Montes de Oca and family, belonged to the Sanibel Island Spanish Seminole rancho community.
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AWIARE IS ACCEPTING RESEARCH APPLICATIONS
STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS -2025 LEARN MORE ABOUT IT HERE!
AWIARE, in cooperation with the Levett Foundation, is making available up to $10,000 to provide assistance to graduate students who are conducting archaeological, historical, and paleoenvironmental research in the greater Tampa Bay region.The Weedon Island Archaeological Site (8PI1) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Use of the AWIARE Research Station is open to qualified researchers and graduate students who wish to conduct archaeological research related to Weedon Island and associated regional cultures.
LEARN MORE AND DOWNLOAD APPLICATION -
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FLORIDA'S WATERY REALMS
The Weedon Island Canoe is featured in a new book by University Press of Florida, Iconography and Wetsite Archaeology of Florida’s Watery Realms. The book includes a chapter written by Phyllis Kolianos and titled, “Wood Preservation Dilemmas of Florida’s Prehistoric Saltwater Sites: Key Marco and Weedon Island” which details the preservation of the canoe. This book edited by Ryan Wheeler and Joanna Ostapkowicz is part of the Ripley P. Bullen series, and explores new discoveries and reexamines existing artifacts to reveal the influential role of water in the daily lives of Florida’s early inhabitants.To order a copy visit: www.upf.com
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THE SEARCH FOR TAMPA BAY'S EARLIEST PEOPLE
AWIARE, in cooperation with the University of South Florida (USF), intends to conduct a multi-year, multi-institutional project to discover archaeological evidence of the earliest occupation of Florida’s west coast from submerged landscapes within Tampa Bay.
HELP US MEET OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL
A $12,500 grant from the Felburn Foundation and $5000 in private donations have brought us well over two-thirds of the way towards our goal of $20,000, which we intend to use to underwrite the first phase of research: to compile existing data related to now-submerged landscapes of Tampa Bay and use these data to identify locations with high preservation potential for intact archaeological deposits and important paleoenvironmental features. The results of this initial study will lay the foundation for the next phase: to conduct remote sensing surveys and coring of potential site locations, leading, eventually, to the excavation of submerged sites.
We are reaching out to you because you have expressed interest in supporting our mission. We hope you agree that investigating the earliest human occupation of Florida and its ancient environment is a worthwhile and significant scientific endeavor.
We hope you will consider a tax-deductible donation to help support “The Search For Tampa Bay’s Earliest People”.
HOW TO DONATE
If you are interested in donating to AWIARE, please use the button below, or mail a check to:
Alliance for Weedon Island Archaeological Research and Education
c/o Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
1500 Weedon Drive NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33702