The Archaeology of Pat’s Island, Ocala National Forest, Florida

Summary

This is a poster submission presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Ocala National Forest is home to numerous 19th and 20th century homesteads. This poster presents preliminary work from the 2021 field season of the UCF-USFS Ocala National Forest archaeological partnership. Excavations focus on two of these sites, including the Long Homestead. Excavations provide insight into the lifeways of Florida’s homesteaders, including artifacts associated with childhood, domestic work, and agricultural activities. This site is also significant because of its connections to the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “The Yearling.” It is the location where Rawlings interviewed the last generation of homesteaders leading to her famous book. It is also the filming location of the 1946 MGM Studies adaptation. This research supports a deeper understanding homesteader life, adds historical depth to an important piece of cultural literature, and documents the end of an era as homesteaders were displaced by various pressures.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2022 SHA Poster Submissions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2022

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology