Mission at Mose: Evidence for Mission Period Occupations at 8SJ40

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Intersection Between Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Pressing Threats to Both", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The multi-component site known as 8SJ40 is perhaps most widely recognized as the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in the United States, called Fort Mose. However, long before the establishment of the Fort Mose community, this land was utilized by indigenous peoples, and as a Spanish mission. Using the historical record, along with data collected during recent excavations at the 8SJ40 site, this paper provides an overview of evidence for mission period occupation at the Fort Mose site. In doing so, the research hopes to contribute to current understandings of mission period sites in Florida’s First Spanish period, extend knowledge of the multiple uses and occupations at 8SJ40, and explore landscape changes related to historic dredging activities and ongoing climatic challenges.    

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Intersection Between Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Pressing Threats to Both   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow