Miami Herald/Tim Chapman
State archaeologists dig outside the Miami Circle on Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, trying to map the ancient site near the Miami River. Clockwise from left are Gary Beiter, Bill Stanton and Brian Conesa, who are digging a test hole and logging information. Archaeologists are gently excavating animal bones, pottery fragments and other ancient household debris in an extended effort to determine the scientific significance of a circle carved into stone bedrock. |
August 27, 1997
Excavation site
being monitored
By CHRISTINE PRESTON
Staff Writer
An archaeologist from St. Augustine has been hired to monitor further digging at a site where human bones were found earlier this month.
Ted Payne, co-owner of American Preservation Consultants, St. Augustine, watched Tuesday as Utilities Commission workers began digging up the asphalt at the corner of Riverside Drive and Downing Street.
That's where human bones were unearthed by crews installing a reclaimed water line on Aug. 7. They are continuing work this year.
The area is close to where two other skeletons were found in an unmarked grave several years ago.
According to Payne, when unmarked human remains are uncovered, Florida law requires they not be disturbed until properly identified and documented.
The bones found Aug. 7 were determined to be very old. They were sent to the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory in Gainesville, an affiliate of the University of Florida.
Experts there are working to date them and determine the gender and race of the individual.
"The treatment and care of uncovered bones is a popular topic. People expect human remains to be treated with proper respect," said Payne.
From Gainesvile, the bones will be turned over to the state's director of historical divisions.
Payne said he expects to be here for a day or two, depending on what is found.
"It's not too glamorous," Payne said of the job as workers dug the trench in shallow layers. "But this is routine work that prevents history from being destroyed."
Payne and his associate, J.B. Johnson, also have a personal interest in the dig. They are hoping to identify where the original shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway began before the Riverside Park area was created years ago.
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