Native American Archaeology of the Coastal American Southeast

Abstract

Abstract In this comparative synthesis the authors summarize the most recent archaeological research in the coastal regions of the American Southeast, focusing on the Gulf coast of Florida and the lower Atlantic coast. Specifically, they outline the evolution of coastal ecosystems in this region, explore early adaptations to coastal environments and the emergence of villages and their concomitant new social institutions, and provide the most recent evidence for the construction of monuments and expanding ritual economies. In the latter part of this chapter, they compare some of the well-studied peoples of this region who were known to inhabit the area during the sixteenth century. These groups include the Calusa, Tocobagans, Timucuans, and Guale. Research on these peoples has provided critical information on coastal economies, the impacts of colonialism, and the role of Indigenous governance in the greater Southeast. In the final section, the authors consider the archaeology of the region and its importance in documenting large-scale cooperative endeavors, including how these groups sustainably managed fisheries over long periods and what that can say about the future of these environments in the face of large-scale climate change.