Southwest Florida Archaeological Society

03/31/2026

SHARK!

FOSSIL SHARK TOOTH IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION

DR. HARRY MAISCH IV

WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2026, 7:00 PM BONITA SPRINGS

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at Bonita Springs Fire Station #24 to learn about fossil shark teeth. Sharks are well represented in the geologic record over the last 100 million years from isolated teeth preserved in ancient marine deposits. Many archaeological sites in Florida have both fossil and modern shark teeth and as apex predators, shark teeth are the most common vertebrate fossils collected in the world, and they have been used as curiosity items, tools, and symbols of wealth, among other purposes, for thousands of years.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Harry Maisch is an Instructor in the Department of Marine and Earth Sciences in The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. He earned his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Earth and Environmental Science with a focus on geology and paleontology from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center. Dr. Maisch's research primarily focuses on Cenozoic shark and fish paleontology from the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the United States. The fossils he has collected on land and while SCUBA diving at various locations around the USA have unique geologic histories that are important for addressing climatic and sea-level changes over geologic time. Much of Harry’s current research focuses on the paleontology and geology of central and southwestern FL.


DIRECTIONS TO THE BONITA SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 24
Located at 27701 Bonita Grande Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, turn off of I-75 at the Bonita Springs interstate Exit 116 (CR-865) to the East opposite the beaches. Go for 0.7 mi. Turn left onto Bonita Grande Dr at red light (Publix and Racetrack). Go north for 0.3 mi. Turn East onto Snell Lane to the entrance. The parking lot is well lit. Bonita Grande Dr. may also be accessed from West Terry St.

02/23/2026

IRELAND: A SACRED ISLAND BEFORE CHRISTIANITY

ALF MONAGHAN, LECTURER

IMAG WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026, 7:00 PM

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at the IMAG for a free presentation by lecturer Alf Monaghan. Forget the myth of Ireland as a lonely island in the wild Atlantic Ocean. During the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the Atlantic was a highway - linking the island to Iberia, the Mediterranean and the Near East. From time immemorial, mariners have moved goods, skills, stories; stone monuments, metalwork, religious beliefs and ritual across this sea road. This lecture traces archaeological finds, seafaring routes, and cultural ties that reveal a shared Atlantic heritage. The result is a portrait of Ireland that is far from remote, with an ancient spiritual heritage, rooted in pre-Christian beliefs, which later blended with Christianity.

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Alf is an Irish native and is a graduate of University College, Dublin School of Business and spent most of his life working on trade and economic development abroad. He spent a decade working for Enterprise Ireland - the Irish State Economic Development Agency - developing Irish exports in the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors. He has been an advisor to governments, development agencies and business in the Middle East, South, and West Africa and spent 10 years in the Middle East in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. It was here that he developed his interest in the trade links and religious influences between the Near East and Ireland. Alf and his wife Mary divide their time between Ireland and Southwest Florida.


DIRECTIONS TO THE IMAG
The IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Take Interstate I75 toward Ft. Myers, then take the FL-82 exit, EXIT 138, toward ML King Jr Blvd/Ft Myers/Immokalee. Turn west onto FL-82/State Road 82. Continue to follow FL-82. Go 3.60 miles, then turn left onto Cranford Ave. Go 0.09 miles, and the IMAG is on the right.

01/29/2026

FEBRUARY PRESENTATION
JIM CROW IN FT. MYERS 1885-1930
DR. JONATHAN HARRISON
IMAG MUSEUM, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2026, 7:00 PM

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at the IMAG (Imaginarium Museum) for a free presentation by Dr. Jonathan Harrison on Jim Crow in Ft. Myers 1885-1930. Black history in this area began in 1867 with the arrival of Nelson Tillis and his purchase of 110 acres of land to raise his family that eventually totaled 11 children. At one time they lived on the river next to the Henry Ford estate on MacGregor Avenue. The arrival of the railroad in Ft. Myers in 1904 ushered in the segregation of the city with an influx of Old Southern whites who were nakedly pro-Confederate and Blacks were pressured to move east of the railway line to an area called Safety Hill. In 1915 the K*K was revived in Atlanta and by 1923 had spread to Ft. Myers where the Klan paraded through the streets of town and in 1924 the Fort Myers Press advocated for a white voting primary and white supremacy. Two weeks later, two young black boys were lynched on the oak trees up Cranford Avenue. Learn about these and other stories about the Black historical experience in Ft. Myers.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
A native of the UK, Dr. Harrison completed his PhD at the University of Leicester and is visiting professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. His doctorate focused on the history of racism, and he was inspired by the PBS documentary Eyes on the Prize and the writings of W.E.B. DuBois. After moving to Southwest Florida, Doctor Harrison realized that the region had not been the subject of proper academic study. Doctor Harrison is an accomplished social science researcher and lecturer and publishes his research in academic journals.

DIRECTIONS TO THE IMAG
The IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Take the 75 fwy toward Ft. Myers, then take the FL-82 exit, EXIT 138, toward ML King Jr Blvd/Ft Myers/Immokalee. Turn west onto FL-82/State Road 82. Continue to follow FL-82. Go 3.60 miles, then turn left onto Cranford Ave. Go 0.09 miles, and the IMAG is on the right.

01/29/2026

At the January SWFAS Meeting we were treated to a book signing, and a meet and greet the noted local author Robert N. Macomber. We had short business meeting including the election of SWFAS 2026 Officers & Directors (thank you all for you service). Mr. Macomber educated and entertained us on the crucial role of Key West, Florida in Union naval strategy in the Civil War. It is easy to see why he is such a popular lecturer as his firm grasp of the naval war and the politics involved in the blockade of the Confederacy. In addition to a good overview of Key West and Florida’s important roles during the Civil War, Macomber shared many lesser known historical facts, consequences, and coincidences.
In his conclusion, he encouraged us to visit Key West and informed us of remaining historical buildings and sites. He highlighted the history of currently existing places on the island such as Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Mallory Square, Clinton Square, Fort East Martello Museum, Key West Gardens at Fort West Martello, Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, Key West Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park. Plus, with a boat tour, you can visit Fort Jefferson.
Thanks go to Mr. Macomber for his great presentation and the IMAG for hosting such a great place for presentations. In case you missed the opportunity to purchase some of Macomber’s books and for more information about him, you may visit his website of robertmacomber.com

10/07/2025

SWFAS is pleased to announce a presentation on The Seminole & The Seminole Wars. The presentation will be held on Wednesday , November 19, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Bonita Springs Fire Department, Station 24 located at 27701 Bonita Grande Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
Jacob Winge, a master story teller, will provide a history of the Seminole Wars. Spanning from 1817 to 1858, these three conflicts between the United States and the Seminole people stand as the longest and most costly Indian wars in American history. This program will highlight significant causes and moments across the decades of conflict as well as the lasting legacy of the wars, from the forced removal of Native peoples to the survival of the unconquered Seminole Tribe in Florida today.

About the Speaker
Jacob is a Fifth Generation Floridian and recognized Public Historian. He is a member of the Brigade of the American Revolution and the Southern Conference on British Studies. He is a former Board President of the Friends of the Collier County Museums, the Florida College System Student Government Association, East Naples Kiwanis, and East Naples Civic & Commerce among Board service with over thirty nonprofits, chambers, and government advisory boards.

He has received multiple awards and honors for his leadership and contributions, such as the "40 Under 40" by Gulfshore Business Magazine, the FCSSGA Bob Graham Lifetime Achievement Award, the Daughter's of the American Revolution Community Service Award, and the FCSAA Leadership Enhancement Award.

He is completing his MBA from Ave Maria University and holds a BASc in Supervision and Management from Florida SouthWestern State College. Jacob is a graduate of Associate Leadership Collier, Leadership Collier, and Charter Class Alumni of Leadership Estero. He lives in East Naples with his wife Alexandria and daughter Wren.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

03/27/2025

Calusa Coast 2025 April Events

Naples, FL – March 20, 2025 - The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce the events this April for Calusa Coast 2025. The various events focus on the Art of the Calusa. Local organizations are offering the public opportunities to learn about Southwest Florida’s rich Native American history and their artwork.

About Calusa Coast 2025

Calusa Coast is a 5 year old collaborative effort with cultural institutions from the region to educate people about the archaeology and ethnography of the Indigenous Peoples of Southwest Florida. This year the focus is on the Art of the Calusa. Calusa Coast Partners have come together to offer programs geared towards education and fun. From Marco Island to Pineland, you’ll be sure to find a few events that pique your interests.

As anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing wrote in his journal in 1896, “In the muck-filled courts of these sea villages I am finding all the arts of the original inhabitants represented with a completeness never before surpassed in such finds as those of the Cliff Dwellers."

About the Events

A full listing and details of the various events and can be found online at https://swflarchaeology.org/calusacoast

Events run from April 4 – 31. Most all are free to the public. They include, walks, talks, paddles, tours, family days and more.

The first event is Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Koreshan State Park: “The Calusa – Southwest Florida’s Native Society.” A fascinating talk about the Calusa, Southwest Florida's ancient native society! Learn about their rich history, unique culture, and incredible achievements.

As a kick-off event, visitors on Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m can view “Art of the Dig: Wells Sawyer’s Watercolors” exhibit and meet the Calusa Coast Team at the IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers. In keeping with the theme of this year’s Calusa Coast events, IMAG and the Southwest Florida Archaeological Society host a viewing of watercolors painted by Wells Sawyer. Sawyer was an American painter and the primary artist for the famed 1896 Pepper-Hearst expedition to Marco Island that discovered the world-famous Key Marco Cat – and other carvings of the Calusa. Six of Sawyer’s original watercolors depicting the Key Marco artifacts as they were discovered are on loan from the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. In addition, 25 reproductions of his works are on loan for the exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Anthropological Archives and University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet some of the organizations that are hosting Calusa Coast Events throughout the month. This unique exhibit was originally curated by the Marco Island Historical Museum.

On Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. is a keynote address by Nicholas G. Penniman IV presenting “The Art of the Calusa” at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Fort Myers. Penniman has been deeply involved in environmental advocacy - currently as past chair of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, a trustee emeritus of the Everglades Foundation, current board member and chair emeritus of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and past board chair of American Rivers. He has been a member of the Randell Research Center advisory board for almost 20 years.

03/27/2025

Presentation: Sacred Geography: The Prehistoric Use of Parabolic Dunes in South Florida

Naples, FL – April 16, 2025 - The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on Sacred Geography: The Prehistoric Use of Parabolic Dunes in South Florida. The presentation will be held April 16, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, 34112. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
During Bob Carr’s extensive work in south Florida, he directed the documentation of two prehistoric sites associated located on large parabolic (U-shaped or crescent-shaped) dunes. One site is at the Jupiter Lighthouse and the second is in Bonita Springs on the Gulf Coast. Cultural deposits at these sites date back to the Late Archaic Period, 7500 – 500 BCE. Why were these locations so important to prehistoric indigenous peoples? Could these sites have inspired the extensive earthworks of the Belle Glade culture (1000 BCE – 1700 CE)? These questions and more will be addressed in his presentation.

About the Speaker
Robert (Bob) Carr co-founded the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy in 1985 and has served as its full-time director since 1999. He has a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from Florida State University. He has worked as an archaeologist with the State of Florida’s Division of Historic Sites, National Park Service and Dade County. He was Miami-Dade County’s first County Archaeologist and became the County Historic Preservation Director. He is the former editor of the Florida Anthropologist and former president of the Florida Archaeological Council. He is a recipient of the Bullen Award and Florida’s Historic Preservation Award.

02/20/2025

The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on: A Window to the Past — 4,500 years of history at Mount Elizabeth. The presentation will be held March 19, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Imaginarium Museum, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, Florida. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
Mount Elizabeth is a large, 31-foot-tall shell mound bordering the Indian River estuary in Martin County, Florida. Extensive excavations at the site in 2008 and 2009 were funded, in part, with a state grant to determine if a "viewing window” into the mound was viable as part of the rehabilitation of the over 14,000 square foot Mediterranean Revival mansion built on top of the site in 1938. The companion restoration project provided an opportunity to sample all 16-feet of archaeological layers in the mound, including excavation under the mansion itself. Field excavations and laboratory work were supported by dozens of volunteers from the Southeast Florida Archeological Society and the Friends of Mount Elizabeth. This presentation will illustrate what life was like for early peoples in south Florida through the 4,500 hundred year history of this fascinating site. Specialized analyses on artifacts and plant and animal bone remains will reveal how archaeologists learn about people in deep time, including results of a recent study by John Furey of the nearly 500 shark’s teeth recovered, including 52 that were used as tools.

About the Speakers
Theresa Schober is an archaeologist who led excavations of Mt Elizabeth, as well as a number of local sites. She serves SWFAS as the chapter representative to the Florida Anthropological Society, where she is also a board member. John Furey is an archaeologist who is the president of SWFAS and excavated the Boca Weir site in Highland Beach.

01/24/2025

SWFAS is pleased to announce a presentation on The Koreshans. The presentation will be held February 19, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Imaginarium Museum, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, Florida. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
Ron Westcott, Koreshan State Park Docent, will start at the beginning with the birth of Cyrus Teed in 1839 and describe how he came to form the Koreshan Unity, moving from New York to Chicago and ultimately to Estero, Florida. He will discuss the Koreshans’ accomplishments in Florida along with the conflict caused by their incorporation of the Town of Estero in 1904. The talk will conclude with the group's decline after Teed's death in 1908 and ultimate turning over of their community to the State of Florida to become Koreshan State Park in 1961.

About the Speaker
Ron Westcott is a native of a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania, raised a family with his wife Joan in Rochester, NY and has been a Florida resident since 1996. In 2012 they sold their home in Jacksonville, FL and took to the road as fulltime RVers. Their first winter home was at Koreshan State Park as residential volunteer docents – living in the park and interpreting the park’s rich history for the visitors.

Ron trained docents and tour guides at Koreshan State Park for over 10 years. Ron is also a past president of the Friends of Koreshan, a citizen’s support organization that assists the park in fund raising, historic preservation and interpretation.

12/30/2024

Join us on Wednesday evening, January 15, for a presentation on The Mound House.

The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on The Mound House. The presentation will be held January 15, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the IMAG, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, Florida. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
Join archaeologist Theresa Schober as she weaves together an entertaining history of Mound House with its idiosyncratic development into the cultural and environmental learning center operating today. Located on Fort Myers Beach, the 3-acre portion of the Calusa shell mound on which the historic William H. Case house was built was acquired with grant funds by the Town of Fort Myers Beach soon after incorporation. The site was subsequently transformed from a residential enclave to a small museum and grounds interpreting the 2,000 year history of the site, including a walk-in exhibit space within the Calusa shell mound known as “Stories Beneath Our Feet.”

About the Speaker
From 2002 to 2011, Theresa Schober worked with the Town of Fort Myers Beach – ultimately as Director of Cultural Resources – to develop Mound House and Newton Beach Park. In addition to heritage resource management, Ms. Schober works with Indigenous communities and institutions to support repatriation and rematriation of ancestral remains and cultural belongings to First Nations and federally-recognized Tribes through her museum practice.

11/28/2024

Way to go, Ann Cordell! Congratulations!!

Florida is peppered with broken pottery, vestiges of a time when Indigenous people throughout the peninsula molded clay into cooking ware and earthen vessels. Archaeologist Ann Cordell has spent her entire career studying this material, from the oldest pottery made in North America 4,500 years ago t

10/19/2024

The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on Looking to our resilient past to build the future: Archaeology and Climate Change in Florida. The presentation will be held November 20, 2024, 7:00 pm, at the Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, 34112. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation
Climate change is impacting archaeological sites throughout the state. Sites are impacted by increased flooding, which can limit access to areas, and more frequent and intense hurricanes. What action can be taken to document and mitigate these impacts to archaeological sites? How can archaeologists and those interested in archaeology mobilize to support efforts of resiliency professionals and other planners?

This presentation by Sara Ayers-Rigsby will cover statewide programs like Resilient Florida, which define cultural sites as a critical asset. We will also delve into current resiliency efforts by local municipalities to create a resilient future.

Our past is being rapidly destroyed. This presentation will also discuss citizen science efforts, like FPAN’s Heritage Monitoring Scouts Florida program, that document the threats to archaeological sites and how these efforts can help support documenting the threats to archaeologists. It is up to all of us to protect these sites!

About the Speaker
Sara Ayers-Rigsby specializes in cultural resources management and historic preservation. As the Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Southeast/Southwest Regions, Ayers-Rigsby is responsible for designing educational outreach and programming for Florida’s southernmost 9 counties which comprise half of the state’s population. Prior to beginning her role as Southeast/Southwest Regional Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network, she spent 10 years working as an archaeologist throughout the United States, with a regional focus on the archaeology of the southeast and Mid Atlantic. She earned her M.A. in Archaeology for Screen Media from the University of Bristol, UK, and her B.A. in Classical Archaeology from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. She is certified as a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). Her research interests include public outreach and archaeology, resiliency, archaeological compliance legislation, and industrial archaeology in Florida.