UNF archaeology students dig in Native American historical site

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Archaeology students from the University of North Florida are digging at one of the state's biggest Native American historical sites in Jacksonville.

University officials say pieces of Native American pottery found in a recent dig are 1,000 years old.

"This is probably the largest Native American community in Northeast Florida -- 1000 A.D.,"

Dr. Keith Ashley of the UNF Anthropology Department said.

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Ashley is leading a dig in Fort Caroline as part of his award-winning archaeology lab work in Northeast Florida.

He said Native Americans here traded shells and sharks' teeth for copper, and other rocks from places as far away as St. Louis.

"Look at Florida landscape in 1000 AD. This is a major site in Florida. (It's a) far-reachingexchange network," Ashley said.

Earlier this month, Ashley and his UNF lab won this year's preservation award from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission.

WJAX