January – March 2021
The First Peoples of Okefenokee by “Turtleman” Chris Adams
The South Georgia we know today is far different than that which was known by the very earliest inhabitants of this region. One place however with a familiar look about it is the Okefenokee Swamp. Having remained much the same for around 6,500 years, the landscape provides us with a glimpse back in time to understand the conditions and the environment that shaped many cultures over the course of centuries.
Radiocarbon dating from archeological sites in Florida proves that ancient man had been present in the Deep South drastically different, being then a much more open and arid place not desirable to the early nomadic hunter/gatherer types of the Paleo era. It wasn’t until the latter part of the Archaic era that we begin to see evidence of the semi-permanent presence in the general area of the swamp. Okefenokee by this time was very much the wetland we know today, hosting a myriad of plant and animal species. This would prove invaluable to the early people who would utilize its natural resources for their very survival.
Plants such as “Beargrass” and Spanish moss were used for cordage making, cypress and pine were burned and scraped to construct dugout canoes, fish, and nearly all other creatures were consumed in great quantity.
Find out more in our Newsletter, click the link below: