In 1984, the first formal archaeological season began at Windover Pond.

Not A Crime Scene

The recognition that the Windover remains were ancient rather than modern was the critical first step in transforming a construction accident into an archaeological investigation.

Understanding why the bones were recognized as ancient — and why that distinction mattered — requires knowing something about how Florida soil behaves differently from most American archaeological contexts.

Florida is not a friendly environment for the preservation of human remains under normal conditions.

The state’s characteristic acidic soils, combined with warm temperatures and high humidity, accelerate the decomposition of bone and organic material dramatically.