Beyond the Dirt: Protecting the Council Oak

Summary

This presentation examines one unique project in which archaeologists from the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s (STOF) Tribal Historic Preservation Office act as caretakers of a living artifact; the Seminole Tribe’s Council Oak tree in Hollywood, Florida. The Council Oak evolved from a convenient shady spot for meetings to one of the most important cultural symbols of the Tribe today. Tribal archaeologists, despite a lack of experience in arboriculture, must face challenges such as natural catastrophes, encroaching urbanism, previous harmful moderations, and shifting tribal priorities in order to preserve this historic living landmark for future generations of tribal members. This unique project demonstrates the need for archaeologists to examine and pay attention to more than just what is in the dirt.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Community Matters: Active Involvement with Tribal Communities, the Many Roles of Tribal Heritage Management

Keywords

Spatial Coverage