Middens, Mounds, and Mortuary Cults: The Archaeology of the Byrd Hammock Site

Join us for an illustrated talk by Jeffery Shanks, an archaeologist with the National Park Service, who is field director for the recent archaeological excavations at the Byrd Hammock Site in Wakulla County. Mr. Shanks will discuss the history of Byrd Hammock, a prehistoric complex of burial mounds and villages that were in use from circa AD 400 to 900 and occupied by the people from the Swift Creek and Weeden Island cultures. Come learn about the results of the recent excavations which are beginning to shed new light on the lifeways and ceremonial practices of these ancient people.
Jeffrey Shanks is an expert on the Woodland Period archaeology of North Florida and has authored and co-authored a number of articles and papers on the subject, including a chapter in the recent book “New Histories of Pre-Columbian Florida.” Jeffrey and his colleagues were awarded the 2016 Outstanding Achievement in Archaeology from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation for their work at the Byrd Hammock Site.

Come meet Mr. Shanks at a reception starting at 6:00 p.m. The lecture is scheduled to start at 6:30.