This volume shines light on Mississippi-period cultures (A.D. 1000–1600) throughout Florida and explores the degree to which indigenous peoples here distilled the ideas and trends of the broader Mississippian world of southeastern and midwestern North America. The importance of Florida natives lies in their own cultural traditions and identities that often intersected with those outside their territorial boundaries. By lifting the veil of cultural uniformity frequently draped over Florida in the Mississippian literature, the authors expose a diverse and vibrant collection of cleared-field maiz ... More

This volume shines light on Mississippi-period cultures (A.D. 1000–1600) throughout Florida and explores the degree to which indigenous peoples here distilled the ideas and trends of the broader Mississippian world of southeastern and midwestern North America. The importance of Florida natives lies in their own cultural traditions and identities that often intersected with those outside their territorial boundaries. By lifting the veil of cultural uniformity frequently draped over Florida in the Mississippian literature, the authors expose a diverse and vibrant collection of cleared-field maize farmers, part-time gardeners, hunter-gatherers, and coastal and riverine fisher-shellfish collectors. Social complexity among non-agricultural fisher-foragers, unique ceramic complexes, temple-mound ceremonialism, responses to environmental and sea-level change, exchange in exotic artifacts such as marine shells, and even consequences of early European contact are among the topics explored. The chapters in this book present significant new syntheses on the Mississippi period throughout Florida, altering some long-standing perspectives. But the collective effort is more an introduction on the subject than the final word. This volume issues clarion calls for systematic survey, excavation, and new research and perspectives on late prehistoric Florida, whose peoples were the first in the Southeast (and the entire United States) to see, react to, and be devastated by invading Europeans. It is imperative to understand how they once were, so as to understand how they all changed and disappeared.