Undergrads at the University of Western Florida are finding excellent organic preservation in their excavation of a Spanish Mission and First Nations village site in Molina, FL. Established in the 1740s, the mission was home to a Spanish cavalry unit and neighboured an Apalachee village. The site was apparently abandoned in 1761 following a raid by Creek Indians.
The students are finding remnants of wooden beams and nails, as well as aboriginal artifacts. The search for the church site continues. Another significant element to the project is that the work is being carried out on private land. It is encouraging to hear of examples of private landowners who are aware of the importance of archaeological heritage and the valuable information work such as this will provide.
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If only all landowners were this forthcoming and accommodating. With better legislation and improved access to what we do have here in Nova Scotia, hopefully the public will continue to value their history and be even more willing to open up their land to researchers.
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