Abstract

Tampa Bay and the broader Central Gulf Coast region of Florida bear evidence of site reduction and population decline during the onset of the Late Woodland period (AD 500-1000). Concomitantly, Weeden Island culture flourished to the north, while climatic instability loomed to the south. It is unclear if the site abandonments in the area between the two are related to social or cultural change, an unstable climate, or a combination thereof. Interdisciplinary research has provided evidence for climate change and sea level regression during the sixth and seventh centuries in Southwest Florida, but these variables have yet to be investigated in Tampa Bay. This study implements a multi-scalar sclerochronological analysis to better understand how the climate of Tampa Bay has changed through time. Analyses of low-resolution stable isotopes (13C and 18O) paired with high-resolution trace elements (Mg, Na, Li, Sr) from 50 eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) specimens supports climatic instability during the Late Woodland period in Tampa Bay.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2019

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Barber, Sarah

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Degree Program

Anthropology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0007902

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007902

Language

English

Release Date

November 2019

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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