Water From Stone: Archaeology And Conservation At Florida's Springs (florida Museum Of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series) [Hardcover]

A research tour de force that seamlessly melds archaeology, geology, ecology, environmental history, and a contemporary conservation ethic. Not only is this volume a must read for scholars interested in Floridas past, but it is one that deserves to be read by anyone interested in Floridas threatened environments.T. R. Kidder, Director of the Washington University in St. Louis Geoarchaeology Lab
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ODonoughue writes thoughtfully and poetically about Floridas geological history and long-term patterns of environmental change and cultural adaptation. A compelling case for the relevance of archaeology to current environmental concerns.Christopher B. Rodning, coeditor of Fort San Juan and the Limits of Empire
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Examines Floridas critically important springs and discusses how they were used and modified over thousands of years by local inhabitants, placing the springs in a deep historic context while offering well-informed suggestions for their long-term management and use.David G. ?Anderson, coeditor of Archaeology of the Mid-Holocene Southeast
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Throughout their history, Floridas springs have been gathering places for far-flung peoples. In Water from Stone, Jason ODonoughue discusses the genesis of springs and their role as sites of habitation, burials, ritualized feasting, and monument building for Floridas earliest peoples.
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ODonoughue moves beyond a focus on the ecological roles of springs and the popular image of springs as timeless and pristineapproaches taken by many archaeologists and conservationists. Instead, he foregrounds the social and historical importance of springs and their ongoing use as gathering places that draw people for ritual purposes even today. This archaeological viewpoint creates a bridge between past and present, encouraging conservation efforts that focus on the intrinsic value of springs as places of personal experience and social interaction with deep historical silÓK