Digging Miami

by Robert S. Carr

The pace of change of Miami since its incorporation in 1896 is staggering. The seaside land that once was home to several thousand Tequesta is now congested with roads and millions of people while skyscrapers and artificial lights dominate the landscape. Ironically, Miami’s development both continually erases monuments and traces of indigenous people and historic pioneers yet also leads to the discovery of archaeological treasures that have lain undiscovered for centuries. In Digging Miami, Robert Carr traces the rich 11,000-year human heritage of the Miami area from the time of its first inhabitants through the arrival of European settlers and up to the early twentieth century. Carr was Dade County’s first archaeologist, later historic preservation director, and held the position at a time when redevelopment efforts unearthed dozens of impressive archaeological sites, including the Cutler Site, discovered in 1985, and the controversial Miami Circle, found in 1998. Digging Miami presents a unique anatomy of this fascinating city, dispelling the myth that its history is merely a century old. This comprehensive synthesis of South Florida’s archaeological record will astonish readers with the depth of information available throughout an area barely above sea level. Likewise, many will be surprised to learn that modern builders, before beginning construction, must first look for signs of ancient peoples’ lives, and this search has led to the discovery of over one hundred sites within the county in recent years. In the end, we are left with the realization that Miami is more than the dream of entrepreneurs to create a tourist mecca built on top of dredged rock and sand; it is a fascinating, vibrant spot that has drawn humans to its shores for unimaginable years.

Genres: History, Archaeology

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even before I moved to Miami 12 years ago I had heard the stories about Bob Carr. How he had survived as Miami Dade County archaeologist and was still on speaking terms with both the developers and the archaeological community. As soon as I arrived I started hearing about how he never stopped working, he had so many projects he seemed to have his finger on everything related to the prehistory of south Florida. This well written overview of south Florida prehistory and early history is an excellent and much needed synthesis of his 30+ years of research. No one but Bob could have written this book, and I'm so glad he did.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of archaeological sites in Miami written by a very experienced and knowledgeable local archeologist. This covers Dade County archaeology from prehistoric times through modern day, including the Miami Circle that appears on the cover. For someone looking for an overview of SE Florida's archeological history this is a great choice. My only real criticism is that for a book makes too much of an assumption that the reader is familiar with archaeological terms and systems; as a historian rather than an archaeologist I was occasionally a bit confused.