Southwest Florida Archaeological Society

10/06/2026

Welcome back to all our SWFAS Snowbirds! Our first presentation is November 18 - see below. Also mark your calendar for December 12 fieldtrip to Sanibel Island.

SUBMERGED INDIGENOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
ON FLORIDA'S WEST COAST by STEVE KOSKI
BONITA SPRINGS, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2026 7 PM

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at the Bonita Springs Fire House Station 24, located at 27701 Bonita Grande Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Numerous Indigenous archaeological sites have been discovered, eroding from the shore along coastal, bay-front waters, and submerged in the nearshore and offshore waters throughout the world. The west coast of Florida is no exception. With its shallow coastal waters and bays, and gently sloping continental shelf, the preservation of these submerged sites is more likely to occur on this coast than in other locations. Study of these sites can provide important information on the people who once lived along our shores in past centuries and millennia, as well as help us to gain an understanding of the processes which facilitate their preservation.

ABOUT THE LECTURER
Steven H. Koski is the former Sarasota County Archaeologist for the Division of Historical Resources (July 2015-July 2024, retired). He received his BA in Anthropology/Archaeology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and completed graduate studies in an MA program at Arizona State University (1984-1986). His research interests include the early people of Florida, coastal adaptations, and early settlement and subsistence systems.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BONITA SPRINGS FIRE HOUSE Station 24
Located at 27701 Bonita Grande Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Turn off of I-75 at the Bonita Springs interstate Exit 116 (CR-865) to the East opposite the beaches. Go for 0.7 mi. Turn left onto Bonita Grande Dr at red-light (Publix and Racetrack). Go north for 0.3 mi. Turn East onto Snell Lane to the entrance. The parking lot is well lit. You may also access Bonita Grande Dr from West Terry St.

10/03/2026

Dr. Jerald T. Milanich, Curator Emeritus of Archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida will be presenting on "The Fourth of July 1776: A Fine Day for the New USA; Not Such a Good One for Florida’s Indians" at the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library Meeting Room, Venice Thursday, October 8 at 2pm. Welcome back to Florida Dr. Milanich! Registration to attend and details at the event link below.

Library Calendar system for Sarasota County Libraries.

03/31/2026

SHARK!

FOSSIL SHARK TOOTH IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION

DR. HARRY MAISCH IV

WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2026, 7:00 PM BONITA SPRINGS

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at Bonita Springs Fire Station #24 to learn about fossil shark teeth. Sharks are well represented in the geologic record over the last 100 million years from isolated teeth preserved in ancient marine deposits. Many archaeological sites in Florida have both fossil and modern shark teeth and as apex predators, shark teeth are the most common vertebrate fossils collected in the world, and they have been used as curiosity items, tools, and symbols of wealth, among other purposes, for thousands of years.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Harry Maisch is an Instructor in the Department of Marine and Earth Sciences in The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. He earned his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Earth and Environmental Science with a focus on geology and paleontology from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center. Dr. Maisch's research primarily focuses on Cenozoic shark and fish paleontology from the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the United States. The fossils he has collected on land and while SCUBA diving at various locations around the USA have unique geologic histories that are important for addressing climatic and sea-level changes over geologic time. Much of Harry’s current research focuses on the paleontology and geology of central and southwestern FL.


DIRECTIONS TO THE BONITA SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 24
Located at 27701 Bonita Grande Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, turn off of I-75 at the Bonita Springs interstate Exit 116 (CR-865) to the East opposite the beaches. Go for 0.7 mi. Turn left onto Bonita Grande Dr at red light (Publix and Racetrack). Go north for 0.3 mi. Turn East onto Snell Lane to the entrance. The parking lot is well lit. Bonita Grande Dr. may also be accessed from West Terry St.

02/23/2026

IRELAND: A SACRED ISLAND BEFORE CHRISTIANITY

ALF MONAGHAN, LECTURER

IMAG WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026, 7:00 PM

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at the IMAG for a free presentation by lecturer Alf Monaghan. Forget the myth of Ireland as a lonely island in the wild Atlantic Ocean. During the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the Atlantic was a highway - linking the island to Iberia, the Mediterranean and the Near East. From time immemorial, mariners have moved goods, skills, stories; stone monuments, metalwork, religious beliefs and ritual across this sea road. This lecture traces archaeological finds, seafaring routes, and cultural ties that reveal a shared Atlantic heritage. The result is a portrait of Ireland that is far from remote, with an ancient spiritual heritage, rooted in pre-Christian beliefs, which later blended with Christianity.

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Alf is an Irish native and is a graduate of University College, Dublin School of Business and spent most of his life working on trade and economic development abroad. He spent a decade working for Enterprise Ireland - the Irish State Economic Development Agency - developing Irish exports in the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors. He has been an advisor to governments, development agencies and business in the Middle East, South, and West Africa and spent 10 years in the Middle East in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. It was here that he developed his interest in the trade links and religious influences between the Near East and Ireland. Alf and his wife Mary divide their time between Ireland and Southwest Florida.


DIRECTIONS TO THE IMAG
The IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Take Interstate I75 toward Ft. Myers, then take the FL-82 exit, EXIT 138, toward ML King Jr Blvd/Ft Myers/Immokalee. Turn west onto FL-82/State Road 82. Continue to follow FL-82. Go 3.60 miles, then turn left onto Cranford Ave. Go 0.09 miles, and the IMAG is on the right.

01/29/2026

FEBRUARY PRESENTATION
JIM CROW IN FT. MYERS 1885-1930
DR. JONATHAN HARRISON
IMAG MUSEUM, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2026, 7:00 PM

The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society invites you to join us at the IMAG (Imaginarium Museum) for a free presentation by Dr. Jonathan Harrison on Jim Crow in Ft. Myers 1885-1930. Black history in this area began in 1867 with the arrival of Nelson Tillis and his purchase of 110 acres of land to raise his family that eventually totaled 11 children. At one time they lived on the river next to the Henry Ford estate on MacGregor Avenue. The arrival of the railroad in Ft. Myers in 1904 ushered in the segregation of the city with an influx of Old Southern whites who were nakedly pro-Confederate and Blacks were pressured to move east of the railway line to an area called Safety Hill. In 1915 the K*K was revived in Atlanta and by 1923 had spread to Ft. Myers where the Klan paraded through the streets of town and in 1924 the Fort Myers Press advocated for a white voting primary and white supremacy. Two weeks later, two young black boys were lynched on the oak trees up Cranford Avenue. Learn about these and other stories about the Black historical experience in Ft. Myers.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
A native of the UK, Dr. Harrison completed his PhD at the University of Leicester and is visiting professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. His doctorate focused on the history of racism, and he was inspired by the PBS documentary Eyes on the Prize and the writings of W.E.B. DuBois. After moving to Southwest Florida, Doctor Harrison realized that the region had not been the subject of proper academic study. Doctor Harrison is an accomplished social science researcher and lecturer and publishes his research in academic journals.

DIRECTIONS TO THE IMAG
The IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Take the 75 fwy toward Ft. Myers, then take the FL-82 exit, EXIT 138, toward ML King Jr Blvd/Ft Myers/Immokalee. Turn west onto FL-82/State Road 82. Continue to follow FL-82. Go 3.60 miles, then turn left onto Cranford Ave. Go 0.09 miles, and the IMAG is on the right.

01/29/2026

At the January SWFAS Meeting we were treated to a book signing, and a meet and greet the noted local author Robert N. Macomber. We had short business meeting including the election of SWFAS 2026 Officers & Directors (thank you all for you service). Mr. Macomber educated and entertained us on the crucial role of Key West, Florida in Union naval strategy in the Civil War. It is easy to see why he is such a popular lecturer as his firm grasp of the naval war and the politics involved in the blockade of the Confederacy. In addition to a good overview of Key West and Florida’s important roles during the Civil War, Macomber shared many lesser known historical facts, consequences, and coincidences.
In his conclusion, he encouraged us to visit Key West and informed us of remaining historical buildings and sites. He highlighted the history of currently existing places on the island such as Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Mallory Square, Clinton Square, Fort East Martello Museum, Key West Gardens at Fort West Martello, Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, Key West Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park. Plus, with a boat tour, you can visit Fort Jefferson.
Thanks go to Mr. Macomber for his great presentation and the IMAG for hosting such a great place for presentations. In case you missed the opportunity to purchase some of Macomber’s books and for more information about him, you may visit his website of robertmacomber.com