Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
| Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Coordinates | 30°27′16″N 81°27′00″W / 30.45445°N 81.44988°WCoordinates: 30°27′16″N 81°27′00″W / 30.45445°N 81.44988°W[1] |
| Area | 46,000 acres (186.16 km2) |
| Established | February 16, 1988 |
| Visitors | 903,177 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service in cooperation with other agencies. |
The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States. The park was established in 1988, and covers 46,000 acres (186.16 km2). Critical wetland habitats are protected within the Preserve, which contains more than 300 privately held pieces of land.
The Fort Caroline National Memorial is located in the Timucuan Preserve, as is the Kingsley Plantation, the oldest standing plantation in the state. The Preserve is maintained through cooperation by the National Park Service, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Jacksonville Department of Parks and Recreation. It is named for the Timucua Indians who had 35 chiefdoms throughout northern Florida and south Georgia at the time of Spanish colonization.
Archeological excavation by a University of North Florida team has revealed more information about indigenous peoples in the area. On Black Hammock Island, they have discovered remnants of the second-oldest pottery in the United States, dating to 2500 BCE. (There have been slightly older finds in the Savannah River area.)[2]
They also have excavated more recent artifacts contemporary with the Mocama chiefdom. In the last 25 years, these Native American people have been recognized as distinct from the Timucua, although they spoke a Timucuan dialect. Their chiefdom extended from the St. Johns River to St. Simons Island, Georgia.[2]
Archeologists believe they have found evidence of a Spanish mission on the island as well.[2] San Juan del Puerto, one of the oldest Spanish missions in Florida, was established here during the 16th century. Franciscan brothers were missionaries to the Timucua and Guale Indians along the coast, whose territory included the Sea Islands in Georgia and up to the Savannah River.
[edit] References
- ^ Google Earth
- ^ a b c Matt Soergel, "Archaeologists help distinguish Mocama group", Morris News Service, 25 Oct 2009, accessed 11 May 2010
[edit] External links
Media related to Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve at Wikimedia Commons
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, National Park Service
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, at U.S. Department of State International Information Programs
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- Geography of Jacksonville, Florida
- Parks in Jacksonville, Florida
- Protected areas established in 1988
- United States National Park Service areas
- United States National Park Service areas in Florida
- National Preserves of the United States
- National Register of Historic Places in Duval County, Florida
- Florida protected area stubs
- United States National Park Service stubs