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EVIDENCE OF PREHISTORIC MAN AT RAY HOLE SPRINGS: A
DROWNED SINKHOLE LOCATED 32 KM OFFSHORE ON THE
12 M SEAWATER
CONTINENTAL SHELF IN 12
Anuskiewicz l
Richard J. Anuskiewiczl
S. Dunbar2
James S.
Dunbar2
1 Minerals Management Service
Service
Gulf of
of Mexico oes
OCS Region
Office of Leasing and Environment (MS
(MS 5442)
1201
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
2 Florida Bureau of Archaeological
Archaeological Research
Division of Historical
Historical Resources
Department of State
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
This
paper will discuss a cooperative research effort be/ween
This paper
between
academic,
State, and Federal agencies that researched and found
found
academic, State,
evidence of
of prehistoric
prehistoric activity at Ray Hole Spring,
submerged
Spring, a submerged
sinkhole. This drowned karst feature is also located in Apalachee Bay,
sinkhole.
Florida, about 32 km (21
(21 mi)
of water. Evidence
mil offshore in 12 m of
presented
in
this
paper
will
focus
on
analysis
of
of carbon dates from
presented
paper
(0.virginiana)
(C^.
vjr£injanaJ and articulated oyster shell (e...
organic samples,
samples, live oak (Q.
virsinica),
at the site. These organic materials were used to
virginica), collected at
reconstruct a sea level curve for
of the Gulf
Gulf of
of Mexico.
for this area of
Mexico. In
addition,
scientists
have
recovered
lithic
debitage
in
the
form of
addition,
of
This debitage,
debitage, interpreted as
secondary reduction thinning flakes. This
man, was found
cultural indicators from prehistoric
prehistoric man,
found buried in crevices
associated with the rim
of this sinkhole feature. These
These cultural
associated
rim of
indicators provide
provide irrefutable physical
physical evidence that this submerged
sinkhole was utilized
utUized by prehistoric
prehistoric man.
man.
INTRODUCTION
The study of Paleoindians in the New World has been the focus of
anthropological research with researchers attempting to answer questions about
"where" these prehistoric settlers lived and "how"
"how" they survived in the late Pleistocene
"where"
to early Holocene environment. In the past,
past. the majority of Paleoindian archaeological
studies have been in the terrestrial
studies
terrestrial arena and were founded
founded in the scientific method with
In the recent past archaeological
a strong theoretical background. "In
archaeological researchers have been
"where" and "how"
"how" questions and finding some interesting
asking these same "where"
int.eresting answers
submerged inundated sites.
sites.
on submerged
Sites "inundated
"inundated by the sea are the most elusive sites to locate.
locatc. These sites may be
deeply buried and inaccessible in some regions of the continental shelf.. ...."(Dunbar
"(Dunbar
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1993
submerged
prehistorie sites (Dunbar 1991),
1991), but only in recent years have
submerged early prehistoric
10 reinforce such views (Dunbar et al. 1992:124-125).
1992: 124-125). The
signifieant
significant diseoveries
discoveries begun to
majority of known inundated Early-Archaic sites discovered in the United States are
located in the eastern Gulf of
located
of Mexico on the Florida Tertiary limestone shelf (Faught
1988
1988 a&b;
a&b; Dunbar and Waller 1983;
1983; Dunbar et al. 1988,
1988, and Anuskiewicz 1987
1987 and
1988).
whieh
1988), This offshore
offshore area of karstified limestone deposits
deposits has little sediment cover, which
enhances the chances in locating and accessing prehistoric sites on the continental
continental shelf.
shelf.
The Apalachee Bay Region
Region of Florida is an ideal geographic
geographie and geologic
geologic area to search
search
I). This area is located
located in the northern
for submerged evidence of prehistoric man (Map
(Map 1).
lhe Florida karst shelf with several
low-sedirnent-Ioad rivers flowing
part of the
several spring-fed, low-sediment-load
into the bay along with
wiLh numerous naturally occurring underground caves and surface
sinkholes
1989:25).
sinkholes (Dunbar et aI.
al. 1989:25).
•
~
f
•
~
_........ ,
'
~
'''~
?~
~
Map I. Apalachee Bay Region of Florida.
KARST AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PALEOHYDROLOGY AND LITHIC
RESOURCES TO PALEOINDIANS
"where" the
dominated Archaic or Paleo-indian siles
sites depends
depends
Ihe stone tool
tool dominated
To locate
locale "where"
on being able to predict site locations based on models of past human behavior and on
geological criteria (Dunbar and Faught n.d.). For prehistoric populations
populalions to maintain
mainlain
their llifeways
during
post-glacial
times,
they
sought
out
areas
rich
in
varied
natural
lifeways
post+glacial
resources.
water, food sources
sources (terrestrial, freshwater
resources. These resources included potable water,
suitable lithic and bone material
and marine),
marine), and suitable
material for tool production.
production.
During low sea level
stands, potable water sources
sources on the Florida shelf may have
level stands,
included
freshwater
rivers,
streams,
and
springs
that
emptied into the Gulf of Mexico,
included
streams,
although some researchers believe most of the karst rivers, those inland,
although
inJand, did not have
continuous flow
now until the
lhe mid-Holocene. Another important source of water in the
2
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Anuskiewicz &
ofPrehistoric
& Dunbar: Evidence of
Prehistoric Man a1
at Ray Hole Springs
Apalachee Bay area occurs in sinkholes intimately
inrimately tied to the underground Floridian
freshwater system.
Aquifer freshwater
system. Florida's topographic character in the Tertiary karst region is
a well-developed,
well-developed, mature karst with complex
complex underground channel systems. Where the
Tertiary
limestones are near the surface.
Tertiary limestones
surface, numerous sinkholes
sinkholes and other openings
openings connect
connect
to the surface.
surface. According to Cooper et al. (1953), and Davies and LeGrand (1972), the
Floridian Aquifer in the these karstic limestones is one the nations largest groundwater
groundwater
aquifers
I).
aquifers (Figure 1).
MARGINAL REGION
REGION
KARST SINKHOLE HYDROLOGY
DRY DRAINAGE SINK
s.~~
5
EXPOSING AQUIFER
SINK EXPOSING
AQUifER
diagram of marginal region karst sinkhole
Figure 1.
1. Geologic block diagram
sinkhole hydrology
(from
1991)_
(from Dunbar 1991).
One might now ask how does the Floridian Aquifer system relate to Paleoindian
shelf? Today the Floridian Aquifer is near the
settlement patterns on the continental shelf?
surface throughout much of the mainland Tertiary Karst Region.
Region. However, during the
Paleoindian time frame,
aquifer, like sea level,
level, was lower, and Paleoindian site clusters
frame, the aquifer,
clusters
were concentrated in areas where numerous karst features gave access to persistent
1).
sources of water (Dunbar 199
sources
1991).
transgression, it is also important
Other than the dramatic effects of sea level transgression.
imponant to
adaptations from the perspective of the paleohydrology that existed on
consider human adaptations
continental shelf prior to present inundation.
the continental
inundation. Regardless
Regardless of yearly precipitation, karst
terrains elevated high above groundwater levels tend to be usually dry and support
xeric habitats because the porous rock permits water to drain quickly to the level
level of the
aquifer. Therefore,
Therefore, climate, which generally exerts the dominant influence on ecology, is
somewhat nullified in limestone regions where karst plays an equally influential part
with ecology (LeGrand
(LeGrand 1973).
1973).
In Florida, the late Pleistocene
decline in sea level
Pleistocene decline
level lowered the karst aquifer about
1974; Clausen 1979),
26 meters or more in some places (Webb 1974;
1979). and water levels
levels in deep
lakes marginal to the Tertiary Karst Region dropped around 18
18 to 20 meters (Watt
1983).
1983). During the late Pleistocene,
Pleistocene, the Tertiary karst shelf is believed to have displayed a
gradation of the ecological variation
variation depending on the elevation of the ground surface
above the water table. This in turn was largely affected by the level of the sea. Areas
now far out to sea (i.e.•
(i.e., Ray Hole Spring-32
Spring-32 km) and nearer to the Clovis shoreline
would have been located where the Floridian
surface.
Aoridian Aquifer was near the surface.
3
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...1993
Lithic
Lithic resources
resources were
were also
also important
important to
to Paleoindian
Paleoindian and
and Early
Early Archaic
Archaic subsistence
subsistence
patterns.
patterns. Generally,
Generally, chert
chert bearing
bearing limestones comprise
comprise aa sightly
sightly undulating
undulating karst plain
sculpted
sculpted by higher
higher sea
sea level
level stands.
stands. The
The distribution
distribution of chen
chert in
in the
the karst
karst plain
plain is
is irregular
irregular
but frequent.
frequent. Chert
Chert boulders are
are exposed
exposed when
when the
the limestone surrounding them
dissolves
dissolves and
and leaves
leaves behind
behind pinnacles of erosion
erosion resistant
resistant chert rock.
rock.
of
the
most
easily
identifiable
Offshore
rock
outcrops
are
one
Offshore rock outcrops are one of the most easily identifiable sea
sea floor
floor features
features on
on
the
the Teniary
Tertiary karst
karst shelf.
shelf. These
These exposed
exposed surface
surface expressions
expressions are
are not hidden
hidden by sediment
sediment
cover
cover and
and are
are somewhat
somewhat easy
easy to
to detect
detect because the
the rock
rock is
is erosion
erosion resistant chert
chert or
dolomitic
dolomitic limestone.
limestone.
THE OFFSHORE
OFFSHORE SURVEY
SURVEY IN
IN APALACHEE
APALACHEE BAY
BAY AND
AND RAY
RAY HOLE
HOLE SPRINGS
SPRINGS
THE
The search
search for
for offshore
offshore prehistoric sit.es
sites becomes
becomes easier
easier when
when inundated
inundated
The
sinkholes, river
river channels
channels and
and chert
chert rock
rock outcrops
outcrops can
can be
be used
used as
as convenient
convenient guideposts.
guideposts.
sinkholes,
The irregular,
irregular, topography-associated features
features such
such as
as submarine
submarine sinkholes
sinkholes provide
The
excellent habitat to
to attract
attract fish
fish and
and other
other marine
marine life
life (Dunbar
(Dunbar et
et aI.,
al., 1989;
1989; Serbousek
Serbousek
excellent
1988). Many
Many of the
the offshore
offshore prehistoric
prehistoric siles
sites in
in the
the Apalachee
Apalachee Bay
Bay area
area have
have been
been
1988).
discovered as
as aa result
result of
of work
work with
with fisherman
fisherman and
and sport
sport divers
divers who
who frequent
frequent their
their
discovered
favorite fishing
fishing hole.
hole. In
In Apalachee
Apalachee Bay
Bay only
only aa few
few submerged
submerged topographic
topographic largets
targets have
have
favorite
been inspected,
inspected, and
and the
the results
results have
have been
been extremely
extremely fruitful
fruitful with
with the
the discovery
discovery of
of 15
15
been
prehistoric sites
sites (Anuskiewicz
(Anuskiewicz 1987,
1987, 1988;
1988; Faught
Faught 1988
1988 a&b;
a&b; 1989,
1989, 1990
1990 a&b,
a&b, 1992,
1992,
prehistoric
Garrison 1992;
1992; Stright
Stright 1992,
1992,,and
and Dunbar
Dunbar per.
per. com.,
corn., 1993).
1993). Near
Near shore
shore archaeological
archaeological
Garrison
Dunbar
surveys (inside
(inside the
the State
State of
of Florida's
Florida's 16-km
16-km limit)
limit) conducted
conducted by
by Faught
Faught and
and Dunbar
surveys
located 15
15 archaeological
archaeological sites
sites (Faught
(Faught 1992:6)
1992:6) from
from 11 km
km to
to 10
10 km
km offshore
offshore at
at depths
depths
located
ranging from
from 0.5
0.5 m
m to
6 55.5
.5m
m below
below sea
sea level
level (Map
( ~ 2).
2). a ~
ranging
.
A d i f a d Encounter* A Significant AccumuMIonà .........."'''91<01 Sit..
• ••
As>l'<Il""~
•• Soy
•
Map 2.
2. Map
Map of
of Apalachee
Apalachee Bay
Bay indicating
indicating paleoindian
paleoindianand
and archaic
archaic sites
sites locations,
locations.
Map
Depth contours
contoursare
are shown
shown at
at 6,
6,12,18,30,
and 60
60 ftft below
below mean
mean sea
sea level
level (from
(from
12, 18,30, and
Depth
1992).
Dunbar et
et al.
al. 1992,
1992, Faught
Faught 1992).
Dunbar
44
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Anuskiewicl
Anuskiewicz&&Dunbar:
Dunbar:Evidence
EvidenceofPrehistoric
of PrehistoricMan
ManatatRay
RayHole
HoleSprings
Springs
RAY HOLE
HOLESPRINGS
SPRINGSGEOLOGY
GEOLOGY
RAY
In
In 1976,
1976,The
The Florida
Florida Bureau
Bureau of
of Geology
GeologyBulletin
Bulletindescribed
described Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springsas
as
"an occasionally
occasionally flowing
flowing spring
spring lying
lying inin 11.6
11.6 m
m of
of water
water and
and measuring
measuring 7.6
7.6 m
m in
in
"an
diameter.The
The north
north side
sideof
of the
the sink
sink slopes
slopessoutheast
southeastand
and the
the southeast
southeastside
sidehas
has aa nearly
nearly
diameter.
vertical limestone
limestone wall
wall to
to aa depth
depth of
of 18
18ffi.
m. AA cave
cave strikes
strikesdown
down and
and southeast
southeast from
from the
the
vertical
18m
mdepth
depth10
toapproximately
approximately30
30m."
m."
18
The ouler
outer rim
rim of
of the
thesink
sink was
wasdescribed
described by
by Dunbar
Dunbar etet al.(1989:28)
al.(1989:28)as
as limestone,
limestone,
The
with minor
minor amounts
amountsof
of silicified
silicifiedrock
rock along
along the
the rim
rim of
of Ihe
thesinkhole
sinkholeand
and inin lhe
the collapsed
collapsed
with
zone
zone around
around the
the rim.
rim. Exposed
Exposed rock,
rock, including
including limestone,
limestone, and
and what
what appear
appear to
to be
be
dolomitized
dolomitized limestone
limestone and
and chert,
chert, was
was pitted
pitted by
by marine
marine organisms
organismscapable
capable of
of dissolving
dissolving
and implanting
implantingthemselves
themselvesinto
intothe
therock.
rock.
and
Dunbar
et
al.
(1992:131)
further
describes the
the geology
geology around
around Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs
Dunbar et al. (1992: 131) further describes
as,
as,
The natural
natural boltom
bottom surrounding
surrounding Ray
Ray Hole
Hole sink
sink consists
consists of
of aa thin
thin
The
veneerof
of bioclastic
bioclastic detritus
detritusand
and sand
sand above
abovethe
the flat
flat limestone
limestonebedrock
bedrock
veneer
of aa karst
karst plain.
plain. Similar
Similarto
to pocked
pocked surface
surfaceof
of the
the onshore
onshore karst
karst plain,
plain,
of
small crevices
crevices and
and solurion
solution holes
holes are
are probably
probably abundant,
abundant, but
but hidden
hidden
small
by sediment
sediment fill
fill and
and difficult
difficult toto identify
identify without
without subbottom
subbottom profiling
profiling
by
equipment.. ..The sinkhole
sinkhole was
was the
the only
only topographic
topographic interruption
interruption inin
equipment....The
theotherwise
otherwisemonotonous
monotonousmarine-scape.
marine-scape.
the
1986FIELDWORK
FIELDWORKAT
AT RA
RAY
HOLESPRINGS
SPRINGS
1986
Y HOLE
In the
the fall
fall of
of 1986,
1986,aa cooperative
cooperativeresearch
research effort
effort sponsored
sponsoredby
by the
the Department
Departmentof
of
In
the Interior,
Interior, Minerals
Minerals Management
Management Service,
Service, Gulf
Gulf of
of Mexico
Mexico Region
Region with
with support
support from
from
the
the Florida
Florida Bureau
Bureau of
of Archaeological
Archaeological Research
Researchand
and the
the Academic
Academic Diving
Diving Program
Program and
and
the
Marine Laboratory
Laboratory of
of Florida
Florida State
State University,
University, investigated
investigated Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs.
Springs. Initial
Initial
Marine
diving investigation
investigation and
and reconnaissance
reconnaissance revealed
revealed that
that the
the sink
sink was
was deeply
deeply filled
filled with
with
diving
recent marine
marine sediment.
sediment.The
The diving
diving investigation
investigation of
of the
the sink
sink included
included diver
diver swimming
swimming
recent
reconnaissance,site
sitemapping,
mapping,attempts
attemptsatatauger
augertesting,
testing, and
and water·jet
water-jet induction
inductiondredging
dredging
reconnaissance,
at aa few
few selected
selected locations.
locations. Auger
Auger testing
testing was
was not
not successful
successful because
because the
the auger
auger could
could
at
not penetrate
penetratethe
the thick
thick marine
marinesediment,
sediment,and
and the
the testing
testing was
was therefore
thereforeabandoned.
abandoned.
not
Next, aa 4-inch
4-inch water
water induction
inductiondredge
dredge was
was employed
employedatatrandom
random areas
areasaround
around the
the
Next,
margins
of
the
sink
in
an
effort
to
locate
sediment
pockets
that
may
have
trapped
lithic
margins of the sink in an effort to locate sediment pockets that may have trapped lithic
artifacts.Several
Severalchert-like
chert-likeOakes
flakes(pseudo
(pseudoartifacts)
artifacts)were
wererecovered.
recovered. Initial
Initial interpretation
interpretation
artifacts.
of the
the pseudo
pseudo artifacts
artifacts recovered
recovered from
from Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs was
was that
that they
they may
may represent
represent
of
poorly preserved
preserved lithic
lithicdebitage.
debitage.
poorly
During an
an ex.cavation
excavation of
of aa large
large crevice
crevice filled
filled with
with typical
typical marine
marine sediment
sediment
During
consistingof
of sand
sandand
and marine
marineshell
shelldetritus,
detritus,two
twointeresting
interestingdiscoveries
discoverieswere
weremade
made inin the
the
consisting
same narrow.
narrow, deep-test
deep-test unit.
unit. The
The crevice
crevice tested
tested measures
measures approximately
approximately J5-20
15-20em
cm inin
same
width and
and isis oriented
oriented inin aa southwesterly
southwesterlydirection
direction towards
towards the
the southern
southern rim
rim of
of the
the sink.
sink.
width
Thefirst
first50
50cm
cmor
orso
soyielded
yielded some
somepossible
possiblepseudo
pseudoartifacts.
artifacts.At
At about
about the
the 70-75-cm
70-75-cm level
level
The
the crevice
crevice yielded
yielded aa lens
lens of
of oyster
oyster shell
shell (Co
(C. virginica).
vireinica). Samples
Samples of
of the
the oyster
oyster were
were
the
carefully collected.
collected.Continued
Continuedexcavations
excavationsproduced
produced aa large
large piece
piece of
of waterlogged
waterlogged wood
wood
carefully
the bottom
bottom of
of the
the oyster
oyster shell
shell level
level and
and lying
lying on
on the
the rock
rock bollom
bottom atat I1m
m deep.
deep. The
The
atat the
wood
was
collected
along
with
an
oyster
shell
sample.
Below
the
point
where
the
wood
wood was collected along with an oyster shell sample. Below the point where the wood
5
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Diving for Science...
Science .../993
1993
Diving/or
was
was collected,
collected, the
the crevice
crevice narrowed
narrowed and
and bottomed
bottomed out.
out, and
and archaeological
archaeological testing
testing was
was
terminated
terminated (Anuskiewicz
(Anuskiewicz 1987:417;
1987:417; 1988:96).
1988:96). The
The discovery
discovery of
of wood
wood not
not damaged
damaged by
by
teredo
teredo worm
worm and
and the
the oyster
oyster shell
shell above
above the
the wood
wood suggests
suggests that
that wood
wood was
was deposited
deposited in
in
wet, probably
probably freshwater
freshwater environment.
environment. Later
Later analysis
analysis of
of the
the wood
wood detennined
determined itit was
was
aa wet,
live
live oak
oak (0,
(0. vireiniana)
virginiana) species.
species. Dunbar
Dunbar et
et a1.
al. (1989:28;
(1989:28; 1992:30)
1992:30) states
states that
that the
the
discovery
disc:overyof
of the
the live
live oak
oak isis strongly
strongly suggestive
suggestive of
of aa coastal
coastal hammock
hammock environment
environment
where
whe:re salt
salt water
water intrusion
intrusion would
would not
not likely
likely occur.
occur. The
The oyster
oyster shell
shell isis indicative
indicative of
of aa
brackish
water
environment
where
saltwater
becomes
diluted
by
the
influx
of
freshwater
brackish water environment where saltwater becomes diluted by the influx of freshwater
adjacent
adjacentto
to the
the coast,
coast, and
and certain
certain species,
species,notably
notably oysters,
oysters,flourish.
flourish. The
The sand/marine
sandlmarineshell
shell
detritus,
detritus, articulated
articulated oyster
oyster shells,
shells, and
and live
live oak
oak wood
wood order
order of
of deposition
deposition indicates
indicates that
that aa
marine
marinetransgressive
transgressivesequence
sequenceisis present
present at
at Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs.
Springs.
Carbon-14
on
both
oak
and
oyster
shell
strongly
support this
this interpretation.
interpretation. The
The
Carbon-14 on both oak and oyster shell strongly support
Carbon-14date
date for
for the
the oak
oak wood
wood yielded
yielded an
an age
age of
of 8,220
8,220 +/+/-80
80 years
years and
and for
for the
the oyster
oyster
Carbon-14
shell 7,390
7,390 +/+/- 60
60 years,
years, carbon-13
carbon-13 adjusted
adjusted 7,740
7,740 +/+/- 60
60 years
years B.P.
B.P. (Anuskiewicz
(Anuskiewicz
shell
1987:417,
1987:417, 1988:184;
1988:184; Dunbar
Dunbar etet al.
al. 1989:28,
1989:28, 1992:31).
1992:31). The
The carbon
carbon dates
dates indicate
indicate that
that
brackish
brackish coastal
coastal environment
environment replaced
replaced terrestrial!
terrestrial1 freshwater
freshwater habitats
habitats by
by about
about 7,700
7,700
yearsago
ago(Figure
(Figure2).
2).
years
,~.
",
~
w
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I
UNEQUAL TIME INTERVALS
THOUSAND YEARS
YEARS BEFORE
BEFORE PRESE~1
PRESENT
THOUSANO
Figure 2,
2. Relative
Relative changes
changeson
on the
the level
level of
of land
land and
and sea
sea during
during the
the late
late Quaternary
Quaternary
Figure
for the
the Gulf
Gulf of
of Mexico.
Mexico. This
Thissea
sea level
level curve
curve indicates
indicates the
the relative
relative position
position of
of Ray
Ray
for
Hole Springs
Springs based
based on
on live
live oak
oak and
and oyster
oyster samples
samples that
that were
were radiocarbon-dated
radiocarbon-dated
Hole
(sea level
level curve
curve was
was developed
developed and
and modified
modified from
from Coastal
Coastal Environments,
Environments, Inc,
Inc. 1977
1977
(sea
revised 1978
1978 and
and 1982).
1982).
revised
AT RAY
RAY HOLE
HOLE SPRINGS
SPRINGS
ADDITIONAL FIELD
FIELD WORK
WORK AT
ADDITIONAL
Since 1986,
1986, several
several diving
diving expeditions
expeditions have
have been
been made
made to
to Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs to
to
Since
collect additional
additional scientific
scientific: data.
data. Three
Three of
of the
the dive
dive trips
trips in,
in, 1989,
1989, 1990,
1990, and
and 1992,
1992,
collect
involved dredging
dredging activities
activities at
at the
the site
site (Q
to look
look specifically
specifically for
for diagnostic
diagnostic lithic
lithic artifacts
artifacts
involved
In addition,
addition, 1990
1990and
and twice
twice in
in 1992
1992 vi
vibra-core
to support
support carbon
carbon dates
dates for
for the
the live
live oak.
oak. In
to
bra-core
testing was
was attempted
attempted to
to gather
gather aa stratigraphic
stratigraphic sediment
sediment sample
sample of
of the
the sinkhole
sinkhole sediment
sediment
testing
cone fOT
for paleo-environmental
paleo-environmenl.al supportive
supportive information.
information. Unfortunately,
Unfortunately, bad
bad weather
weather and
and
cone
mechanical
problems
with
the
vibra-core
resulted
in
gathering
a
1.3
m
core
sample.
This
mechanical problems with the vi bra-core resuhed in gathering a 1.3 m core sample. This
specific research
research was
was conducted
conducted in
in an
an attempt
attempt to
to gather
gather supporting
supporting paleo~environmental
paleo-environmental
specific
sea level
level curve
curve data
data to
to supplement
supplement existing
existing information
information for
for this
this area
area of
of the
the Gulf.
Gulf. These
These
sea
6
Rubicon Foundation Archive (http://rubicon-foundation.org)
Anuskiewicz &
& Dunbar: Evidence of
of Prehisroric
Prehistoric Man
Man at Ray Hole Springs
Anuskiewicz
diving operations
operations were
were aa cooperative
cooperative research
research effort
effort between the
the MMS
MMS and
and the
the
diving
National Park
Park Service,
Service, Southwestern
Southwestern Region,
Region, and
and the Florida
Florida State
State University,
National
Department of Geology.
Geology.
Department
INITIAL ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS AND
AND RESULTS
RESULTS OF
OF TESTING
TESTING
INITIAL
Testing prior to
to 1990
1990 at
at Ray
Ray Hole Spring
Spring gave
gave us
us evidence
evidence of past
past brackish
brackish water
water
Testing
and terrestrial
terrestrial environments
environments fTom
from aa l-m
1-m deep,
deep, sediment-filled
sediment-filled crevice.
crevice. Other
Other tests
tests
and
produced aa number of
of pseudo-artifacts
pseudo-artifacts recovered
recovered from
from shallow
shallow marine
marine sediments
sediments around
around
produced
the rim
rim of
of the
the sink.
sink. We
We considered
considered the
the specimens
specimens recovered pseudo-artifacts
pseudo-artifacts because
the
they were
were too
too corroded
corroded by the
the marine
marine environment
environment for
for their
their origins
origins to
to be
be certain.
certain. These
These
they
findings raised
raised our
our hopes
hopes that
that evidence
evidence of
of prehistoric human
human activity
activity might
might also
also be
be
findings
found at
at the
the site
site and
and that
that further
further testing
testing was
was warranted
warranted and
and pursued
pursued (Figure
(Figure 3).
3).
found
RAY 1101.1':
HOLE Sl'ttlNG
SPRING
RAY
"
(al
,
• ..
.•"" , ..".>
. . ~ ..-~ . . ~ ~
.
.,
,.~,~,
.~
(
'. ,.' "
,t
..
(hI
< ' •
"
(
'~
,
3m
1
lEGEND
LEGEND
CABBONATE SAND
a l'... ~l
1
-87 W I N E WELL ETFNTUS
·"MNIN;~u..OUA<T\.t6
1~-1J .'6 ......1N1: Ef'tU tETMW
Figure 3.
3. (a)
(a) A
A plan
plan and
and prolile
profile view
view of
of Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs,
Springs, (b)
(b) aa pseudo-artifact
pseudo-artifact
Figure
collected from
from aa crevice
crevice located
located at
at lhe
the north-end
north-endof
of the
the sinkhole
sinkhole (from
(from Anuskiewicz
Anuskiewicz
collecled
(987).
1987).
Continued testing
testing in
in 1990
1990and
and 1992
1992 was
was primarily
primarily focused
focused in
in the
the rim
rim area
area of
of the
the
Continued
sink in
in hopes
hopes of
of finding
finding another
another deep
deep sediment-filled
sediment-filled crevice
crevice in
in Ihe
the limestone
limestone bouom.
bottom.
sink
Although no
no deep
deep crevices
crevices were
were localed,
located, several
several shallow,
shallow, sediment-filled
sediment-filled crevices
crevices were
were
Although
encountered and
and two
two debitage
debitage flakes
flakes were
were recovered.
recovered. The
The debitage
debitage flakes
flakes also
also
encountered
displayed
a
form
of
corrosion
but,
unlike
the
other
samples,
their
exterior
remained
intact
displayed a form of corrosion but, unlike the other samples, their exterior remained intact
7
Rubicon Foundation Archive (http://rubicon-foundation.org)
Diving/or
...1993
Diving for Science
Science...
/993
artifacts. The two debitage flakes,
and allowed them to be positively identified as anifacts.
flakes, one
recovered in 1990 and the other in 1992,
1992, have a patina-like corrosion that has
transformed the interior of the flakes
flakes into an almost
flakes are
transformed
almost pure, caulk-like
caulk-like tripoli. The flakes
similar to chert artifacts recovered in near-surface deposits
deposits from sites in Apalachee Bay
similar
closer to the present shoreline. The degradation of the flakes by corrosion weakened
them, and our collection technique of
of filling a nylon-mesh sample bag with bulk
caused the flakes
flakes to crumble around their thin
quantities of shell
shell detritus and rock rubble caused
quantities
edges. Both flakes
flakes show the scars of more than one concoidal flake detachment, and
one has a surviving bulb of percussion.
percussion. Both are also the result of
of secondary
secondary reduction,
extracted from a core in an area previously cleared
cleared of outer cortex
cortex by primary reduction.
reduction.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
In 1986,
1986, our initial test in the sink at Ray Hole Spring indicated that the marine
sediment was too deep for continued excavation. The subsequent discovery of the 1-m
1-01
deep crevice with sediments indicating sea level transgression changed our focus
focus to
tests around the sinkhole's rim. Although
Although no other deep crevices were located,
located, a number
of pseudo-artifacts and eventually two debitage flakes were recovered. The context of
these specimens can be traced to two stratigraphic horizons. The first is a thin level,
usually less than 10
10 cm thick, of transient, surficial sand deposits that dominate the
sink along with less frequent natural rock outcrops. A
bottom terrain surrounding the sink
some with multiple flake scars, were recovered from the
number of pseudo-artifacts, some
surficial sand, but displayed decomposed exterior surfaces due to presumed frequent
growth. The second sediment
sediment type consists of rubble deposits that
exposure and marine growth.
surficial sand deposits in crevices and depressions in the limestone
occur under the surficial
limestone that
average about 25 cm to 35 cm deep. The rubble deposits consist of a mixture of
shell detritus and pebble to cobble-size rock mixed with sand,
sand, silt and clay.
bioclastic shell
Pseudo-artifacts were recovered from
from the rubble deposits and include specimens that
appeared to have undergone exterior corrosion followed by erosion that removed the
corroded exterior and left behind a "ghost"
"ghost" core of a former tool. The two debitage
debitage
flakes were also recovered from this context and,
and, although it cannot be proven, we
believe they were recovered from
from the deepest recesses of the limestone crevices where
they were protected from the effects of erosional
events.
erosional events.
Finally, in 1992
1992 a second test (Test 2)
2) was opened in the sink adjacent
10 the rim.
adjacent to
This test proved to be much more interesting in that another deep section
section containing
brackish water sediment
sediment was identified.
shell dominated the
identified. Both oyster and mussel shell
strata with a number of occurrences
occurrences of still articulated
articulated bivalves,
bivalves, which indicate primary
deposition. As frequently happens, Test 22 was never completed due to project time
constraints, and the brackish water sediment column was never penetrated to expose
potential lower stratigraphic
stratigraphic levels. The Test 2 area has stratigraphic
stratigraphic depth and promises
to have in-situ cultural site component(s) still buried. It will be our next target for
continued testing.
continued
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Normally, a terrestrial
archaeological site on
terrestrial location would not be recorded as an archaeological
the basis of two debitage flakes, even though the artifacts demonstrate evidence of past
8
Rubicon Foundation Archive (http://rubicon-foundation.org)
Anuskiewicz&&Dunbar:
Dunbar: Evidence
Evidence ofPrehistoric
of Prehistoric Mall
Man at
a tRay
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs
Anuskiewicz
human activity.
activity. There
There are
are two
two reasons
reasons why
why we
we decided
decided to
to record
record Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs as
as
human
such
such aa site
siteatat the
the end
end of
of the
the 1992
1992testing
testing session.
session.First,
First, itit isis the
the farthest
farthest offshore
offshore location
location
at
at the
the greatest
greatest depth
depth below
below present
present sea
sea level
level to
to have
have produced
produced prehistoric
prehistoric artifaclS
artifacts in
in
the
the northeastern
northeastern Gulf
Gulf of
of Mexico.
Mexico. Second,
Second, the
the two
two debitage
debitage flakes,
flakes, along
along with
with several
several
pseudo-artifacts,
pseudo-artifacts, suggest
suggest the
the site
site has
has greater
greater evidence
evidence of
of prehistoric
prehistoric cultural
cultural activity.
activity.
Now that
that aa second
second area
area of
of brackish
brackish water
water sediment
sediment has
has been
been identified,
identified, further
further testing
testing
Now
promises
promises to
to give
give us
us an
an opportunity
opportunityto
to identify
identify potential
potential undisturbed
undisturbed site
site components.
components.
Future research
research at
at Ray
Ray Hole
Hole Springs
Springs should
should determine
determine how
how extensively
extensively
Future
prehistoric peoples
peoples used
used the
the site.
site. In
In this
this paper
paper itit has
has been
been our
our purpose
purpose to
to report
report this
this
prehistoric
archaeological
archaeological site's
site's existence.
existence. Along
Along with
with the
the 15
15 other
other prehistoric
prehistoric sites
sites in
in Apalachee
Apalachee
Bay
Bay itit isis confirmation
confirmationof
of aa larger
larger resource
resource base
base inundated
inundated by
by Holocene
Holocene transgression.
transgression. ItIt
isis aa marine
marine resource,
resource, once
once aa subject
subject of
of speculation,
speculation, that
that can
can now
now be
be confinned
confirmed in
in the
the
Apalachee
Bay
region
of
the
Gulf
of
Mexico.
It
is
a
resource
base
we
are
just
beginning
Apalachee Bay region of the Gulf of Mexico. It is a resource base we are just beginning
to understand
understand (Figure
(Figure4)
4) ..
to
THE CONTINENTAL
CONTINENTAL SHELF
SHELF
THE
or
OF
FLORIDA
FLORIDA
AND
'NO
WESTERN
WESTERN
SLOPE PROFILES
PROFILES
SLOPE
SEA LEVELS AND
CHRONOLOGY ADAPTED
FROM FRAZIER, 1974
ADAPTED FROM BATHlUETERlC MAP
EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO
NOAA 1986
500 m
acf RUDOIMAN AND WPPLESET. 1985
BB
=-
SECTION
SEmON
Current Seo Level
3 mbls 5.000-2.600bp
6
12 rnbls
mbk 78.3OC-7,4OObp
,000-5.50%~
16 mbsl 10.000-750-
1
6'
S'
\
%
nm
' '*
Figure
Figure 4.
4. Western
Western slope
slope profiles
profiles of
of the
the Florida
Florida continental
continental shelf
shelf (from
(from Faught
Faught
1992).
1992).
9
Rubicon Foundation Archive (http://rubicon-foundation.org)
for Science ...
...J993
Diving for
1993
LITERATURE CITED
LITERATURE
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Richard J. 1987.
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II