Papers by Gregory A. Mikell
Southeastern Archaeology, 2012
Abstract Zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains from the Mack Bayou site produced new data ... more Abstract Zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains from the Mack Bayou site produced new data related to coastal Woodland subsistence on the northern Gulf Coast of Florida. When the Mack Bayou data are compared with data from other Woodland sites on the northern Gulf Coast, a strong pattern of estuarine and shallow coastal waters utilization is evident, with notable but fairly minor site by site variation. It is also evident from these data that sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are a consistently important dietary component across the northern Gulf Coast, particularly on coastal sites in the Panhandle region of northwestern Florida.
Journal of Alabama Archaeology, 1989
Southeastern Archaeology, 2007
Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee... more Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee Bay have yielded important data on early estuarine exploitation in the terminal Middle and Late Archaic (7300-3200 2 cal. B.P.). While these sites are located above a cypress swamp over 2 km upstream from the modern estuarine zones of Choctawhatchee Bay, evidence of estuarine fauna exploitation characterizes each of these sites. Testing and excavation at six of these sites has provided evidence of intensive but discontinuous occupation in the Archaic, after which the terrace was abandoned. The area was not reoccupied until the Weeden Island II period, during which use appears to have been relatively ephemeral. In this paper we focus on the Archaic occupations. Our objectives are to introduce these important sites to a wider audience and to establish their antiquity and the nature of the occupations. In addition, we consider whether these sites might have been inhabited during periods of...
The Florida Anthropologist, 1993
Southeastern Archaeology, Dec 1, 2007
Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee... more Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee Bay have yielded important data on early estuarine exploitation in the terminal Middle and hate Archaic (7300-3200 2 cal BP). While these sites are located ...
The Florida Anthropologist, 2019
The archaeology of the Galvez siege of British Pensacola
Like many archaeologists, I was drawn into the uncritical use of “Elliott’s Point”1 in relation t... more Like many archaeologists, I was drawn into the uncritical use of “Elliott’s Point”1 in relation to the Late Archaic of northwest Florida, using it to conveniently pigeon-hole materials and components. After working at Mitchell River Late Archaic sites (Mikell and Saunders 2007) and having agreed with Nancy White’s questioning of the validity of Elliott’s Point (White 2003a; 2003b; 2004), I came to the conclusion that doing so was in error. Recently, Austin and Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc. (SEARCH) conducted mitigative work at Bayou Park (8OK898), an “Elliott’s Point” site on Eglin Air Force Base (Austin et al. 2014). Bringing a fresh viewpoint, they applied a thorough and succinct critique of Elliott’s Point. Initially, I felt as though Austin and his colleagues had “beaten me to the punch” in their criticism of the various ways Elliot’s Point is defined as used, but their effort only motivated me to do this work and reach a wider audience. The primary aim of this reappraisal of Elliott’s Point is to encourage archaeologists to critically think about the Elliott’s Point and other classification systems before they use them.
In this paper, the following major themes are examined: the formulation of Elliott’s Point as an archaeological complex, the material traits associated with Elliott’s Point, and the weaknesses of Elliott’s Point as it is often used to interpret northwest Florida Late Archaic sites and cultural processes. Data from previously published sources are utilized along with new data from recently excavated sites to support the thesis that Elliott’s Point, as currently defined, lacks well-documented, unique characteristics to be considered a complex distinct from the broader Late Archaic culture of the northern Gulf Coast. It is suggested that Elliott’s Point can only potentially serve as a phase-level archaeological unit of culture-historical organization (sensu Willey and Phillips 1959) for a restricted set of sites, but only after definitive data are documented to show association with Poverty Point.
It is curious how many paths "following the evidence" can take one down. A case in point is the S... more It is curious how many paths "following the evidence" can take one down. A case in point is the Spanish artifacts from archaeological site 8WL38 on Fourmile Point ( ). From the time of their excavation and collection in the 1990s, six metal artifacts have led to many paths of inquiry (Mikell , 1997(Mikell , 2013. The combination of artifact types, what they represent in terms of possible events, and who may have left them has come into sharper focus as a result. In this paper, we first detail the Spanish artifacts from 8WL38 and the contexts of their recovery and then follow the evidence as to how they became part of the archaeological record at 8WL38. The importance of one the 8WL38 artifacts, a likely pintle and gudgeon (rudder) rivet is discussed and followed by a description of the vessel types it could have been associated with. Then we describe the Spaniards who most likely left the artifacts, and why we consider them the most likely candidates based on the types of seafaring vessels they were known to have sailed, according to historic accounts. We then conclude with two sections dealing with an accounting of the ships in the sixteenth century Spanish fleets recorded (and often misinterpreted) as having been on the north-central Gulf Coast and west Florida. Figure 1. Map of Fourmile Point showing all recorded Fort Walton sites labeled with State site numbers. Vol. The Florida Anthropologist
Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the
cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee... more Investigations of 16 sites on the Pamlico Terrace above the
cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee Bay have yielded
important data on early estuarine exploitation in the
terminal Middle and Late Archaic (7300–3200 2 cal. B.P.).
While these sites are located above a cypress swamp over
2 km upstream from the modern estuarine zones of
Choctawhatchee Bay, evidence of estuarine fauna exploitation
characterizes each of these sites. Testing and excavation
at six of these sites has provided evidence of intensive but
discontinuous occupation in the Archaic, after which the
terrace was abandoned. The area was not reoccupied until the
Weeden Island II period, during which use appears to have
been relatively ephemeral. In this paper we focus on the
Archaic occupations. Our objectives are to introduce these
important sites to a wider audience and to establish their
antiquity and the nature of the occupations. In addition, we
consider whether these sites might have been inhabited
during periods of sea level highstands, which would have
brought estuarine resources within easy reach of the terrace.
Drawing from a technical report on data recovery conducted at sites 8ES2949 and 8ES2950, a snapsh... more Drawing from a technical report on data recovery conducted at sites 8ES2949 and 8ES2950, a snapshot of life near Pensacola between 1800 and 1860 is presented from the vantage points of both mill owners/operators and slaves.
The Florida Anthropologist, Vol. 63, No.2.
The Florida Anthropologist, Vol. 65, No.3.
Southeastern Archaeology Vol. 31, No. 1.
The Florida Anthropologist 66:31-50.
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Papers by Gregory A. Mikell
In this paper, the following major themes are examined: the formulation of Elliott’s Point as an archaeological complex, the material traits associated with Elliott’s Point, and the weaknesses of Elliott’s Point as it is often used to interpret northwest Florida Late Archaic sites and cultural processes. Data from previously published sources are utilized along with new data from recently excavated sites to support the thesis that Elliott’s Point, as currently defined, lacks well-documented, unique characteristics to be considered a complex distinct from the broader Late Archaic culture of the northern Gulf Coast. It is suggested that Elliott’s Point can only potentially serve as a phase-level archaeological unit of culture-historical organization (sensu Willey and Phillips 1959) for a restricted set of sites, but only after definitive data are documented to show association with Poverty Point.
cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee Bay have yielded
important data on early estuarine exploitation in the
terminal Middle and Late Archaic (7300–3200 2 cal. B.P.).
While these sites are located above a cypress swamp over
2 km upstream from the modern estuarine zones of
Choctawhatchee Bay, evidence of estuarine fauna exploitation
characterizes each of these sites. Testing and excavation
at six of these sites has provided evidence of intensive but
discontinuous occupation in the Archaic, after which the
terrace was abandoned. The area was not reoccupied until the
Weeden Island II period, during which use appears to have
been relatively ephemeral. In this paper we focus on the
Archaic occupations. Our objectives are to introduce these
important sites to a wider audience and to establish their
antiquity and the nature of the occupations. In addition, we
consider whether these sites might have been inhabited
during periods of sea level highstands, which would have
brought estuarine resources within easy reach of the terrace.
In this paper, the following major themes are examined: the formulation of Elliott’s Point as an archaeological complex, the material traits associated with Elliott’s Point, and the weaknesses of Elliott’s Point as it is often used to interpret northwest Florida Late Archaic sites and cultural processes. Data from previously published sources are utilized along with new data from recently excavated sites to support the thesis that Elliott’s Point, as currently defined, lacks well-documented, unique characteristics to be considered a complex distinct from the broader Late Archaic culture of the northern Gulf Coast. It is suggested that Elliott’s Point can only potentially serve as a phase-level archaeological unit of culture-historical organization (sensu Willey and Phillips 1959) for a restricted set of sites, but only after definitive data are documented to show association with Poverty Point.
cypress swamp north of Choctawhatchee Bay have yielded
important data on early estuarine exploitation in the
terminal Middle and Late Archaic (7300–3200 2 cal. B.P.).
While these sites are located above a cypress swamp over
2 km upstream from the modern estuarine zones of
Choctawhatchee Bay, evidence of estuarine fauna exploitation
characterizes each of these sites. Testing and excavation
at six of these sites has provided evidence of intensive but
discontinuous occupation in the Archaic, after which the
terrace was abandoned. The area was not reoccupied until the
Weeden Island II period, during which use appears to have
been relatively ephemeral. In this paper we focus on the
Archaic occupations. Our objectives are to introduce these
important sites to a wider audience and to establish their
antiquity and the nature of the occupations. In addition, we
consider whether these sites might have been inhabited
during periods of sea level highstands, which would have
brought estuarine resources within easy reach of the terrace.