People of the Apalachicola Project: January 2024 Fieldwork Recap

B. Brooks and N. Grinnan take shoreline measurements along the Bay side of St. George Island (Photo by M. Thomin). January 2024 Fieldwork Recap With the kick-off of the “People of the Apalachicola: Exploring Cultural Heritage to Support Ecosystem Planning, Management, and Adaptation” project this month, our team worked in Apalachicola from January 19-26 to accomplish several fieldwork goals: Monitor nine archaeological sites within the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, primarily on Little St. George Island. Utilize a hyper-accurate GNSS receiver (much like a GPS) to take measurements of several shoreline areas on Little St. George Island and in Eastpoint. Hold the first “Community Conversation on Heritage At Risk” discussion workshop at the Holy Family Senior Center in Apalachicola. Lewis Leland headstone on Little St. George Island (Photo by N. Grinnan). January weather conditions made getting outside somewhat challenging due to a cold spell and strong winds, but we reached our goals of visiting all nine archaeological sites that we were permitted to access within the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. Our site monitoring and shoreline measurements are intended to establish a baseline for understanding how these dynamic environments change over time, particularly as changes in global climate result in changes locally.   Our first “Community Conversation” event on January 25 was a fabulous success due to the coordination of our colleagues and local partners, Anita Grove and Val Webb. They worked to secure the Holy Family Senior Center for us and advertise the event in the Apalachicola area. Our participants were engaged and thoughtful, sharing their views on what cultural heritage means to the community and how cultural heritage sites should be preserved going forward. The project’s goal with these events is to be able to leverage community feedback and provide it to local land managers and leaders as they plan for the future. If you missed out on this most recent event, consider joining us on either February 22 or March 14 (more information below)! Upcoming Events February 22 “Community Conversation on Heritage at Risk” 5:00pm-6:00pm ET Apalachicola Community Center, Battery Park, Apalachicola, FL Join us to share your thoughts on how local heritage sites should be preserved for future generations. Participants must be at least 18 years old (those younger can attend, however). RSVP today! March 14 “Community Conversation on Heritage at Risk” 5:00pm-6:00pm ET Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive (State Road 300), Eastpoint, FL Join us to share your thoughts on how local heritage sites should be preserved for future generations. Participants must be at least 18 years old (those younger can attend, however). RSVP today! Meet the Project Team Nicole Grinnan, M.A., RPA Nicole is a Research Associate and Public Archaeologist with the Florida Public Archaeology Network, a program of the University of West Florida. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of St Andrews (Scotland) and is serving as this project’s Principal Investigator. Nicole is an avid scientific diver and loves exploring North Florida’s coasts. Mike Thomin, M.A. A Research Associate and Museum Manager at the Florida Public Archaeology Network, Mike is  serving as this project’s Collaborative Lead on behalf of the Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation. He is a public historian with over a decade of experience working as a museum professional. Mike enjoys hiking local trails and is an award-winning videographer. Bria Brooks Bria is graduate student in Anthropology at the University of West Florida and is the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s senior graduate assistant. She is working on a Master’s thesis related to the public interpretation of African diaspora archaeology, focusing on the Prospect Bluff site on the Apalachicola River. In her spare time, Bria can be found enjoying our beautiful beaches! FPAN Project Page NERRS Science Collaborative Project Page Contact Us This work is sponsored by the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERS) Science Collaborative, which supports collaborative research that addresses coastal management problems important to the reserves. The Science Collaborative is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and managed by the University of Michigan Water Center (NA19NOS4190058). Copyright (C) 2024 Florida Public Archaeology Network - Northwest Region. All rights reserved.

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