Cultural Resource Assessment Update, Monroe County, Florida

Archaeological and Historic Conservancy, Inc.

From consultant summary: "From January through June, 2016, the Archaeological & Historical Conservancy, Inc. (AHC) conducted a cultural resource survey and update of all previously recorded terrestrial archaeological sites and historic structures located in the Florida Keys within unincorporated Monroe County, including a survey of previously undocumented archeological and historical resources of potentially significant structures that had turned 50 or more years old since that last assessment. The project area consists of a chain of islands extending 180 miles from Key Largo southwest to Key West. The project excluded the municipalities of Key West, Marathon, Layton and Islamorada (Figure 2). Also excluded from the assessment were State and Federal properties. The assessment was conducted for Monroe County under a grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources... The Florida Keys total 65,443 acres with current population concentrated in Key West, Stock Island, Boca Chica, Marathon, Key Largo and Islamorada and in a string of communities distributed along the Overseas Highway (U.S. 1). Most of the upland areas are developed or impacted with the exception of Federal and State preserves; the largest upland preserve being the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock State Park containing 2454 acres (Wilder et al. 2014). This assessment included an archival review and pedestrian surveys, both architectural and archaeological, and completion of Florida Master Site File (FMSF) forms for sites within the Florida Keys project area. A total of 406 sites were assessed. Forty-nine previously recorded archaeological sites and 225 previously recorded historic structures were field-assessed. Two archaeological sites and 30 historic structures were determined to have been destroyed (Appendix I). Seven archaeological sites were not visited because access was not possible and no site forms were completed for these sites (Appendix IL) Additionally, 22 archaeological sites and 80 historic structures were newly documented. Sixty-four archaeological site forms and 335 historic structure forms were completed for this report. FMSF forms were updated or newly created, and the FMSF is by this report notified of sites that had been destroyed (Appendix I). Recommendations are provided in this report regarding the protection of significant cultural resources including potential revisions to the Tavernier Historic District and the effective protection of archaeological sites. Also recommended is a streamlined review process for permit applications that affect designated sites, structures, or districts." Funding was provided in part by a 2015 Historic Preservation Fund grant to Monroe County (project number FL-15-018) administered by the Florida State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P15AF00045) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Monroe County, Florida is a Certified Local Government.

Cultural Resource Assessment Update, Monroe County, Florida

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