Digging Deeper - January Ecoquest
For this month’s EcoQuest, Digging Deeper , we are exploring the connection between Florida’s indigenous people and plants. Much of the ethnobotanical knowledge of American Indians is passed down through generations, as is the case with the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes. We know they rely upon plants for food and shelter, made dugout canoes of pine and cypress, and use plant fibers for textiles, crafting dolls and basket-making. Some of these traditions still exist today. However, Florida’s original inhabitants at the time of European arrival, (like the Calusa and Tocobaga) were decimated through introduced diseases, conflicts, and enslavement. Since the oral history of these cultures was also lost, we must rely upon records of European historical writings and archeology to piece together clues about Florida’s early native people and plants.
Archaeobotanists work to study the plant remains from archaeological sites. The shell mounds and middens built by Native Americans provide a glimpse into daily life over time. We hope you'll join this month's EcoFlora Ecoquest: Digging Deeper
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