Toward a Better Understanding of North Peninsular Gulf Coast Florida Prehistory: Archaeological Reconnaissance in Dixie County, Florida

Abstract

Archaeological reconnaissance in portions of Dixie County and selected adjacent sections of Taylor and Levy Counties, Florida, resulted in the description of 28 sites that, along with the region's previously known sites, represent occupation from the Archaic to the Historic periods. Of particular interest are one Taylor County site that has a pure Swift Creek assemblage, and several Dixie County sites containing pure or dominant Alachua Tradition components. Prior to this reconnaissance, pure Swift Creek sites were apparently unreported on the Florida peninsula, and Alachua Tradition sites were thought to be rare outside North-central Florida. Future work will attempt to provide an absolute chronology for the region, then focus on determining the relationships between the Alachua Tradition groups and the region's Weeden Island-related projects.