Claggett, Heather Lea 1995 - New Interpretations of Late Prehistoric and Protohistoric Occupation in the Interior of Florida's Central Gulf Coast.

Abstract: Once thought of as a "hinterland" exploited by the people of the Safety Harbor Culture (A.D. 800 - A.D. 1000), and later, the "heartland" of a related culture, the interior of Florida's Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Region now appears far less homogenous than once believed. Milanich's (1978) Cades Point Occupational Nexus Model, which defined six separate nexuses via the nearest neighbor statistic, is tested utilizing data from 27 pre-contact and post-contact archaeological sites in the interior Central Gulf Coast region. The results reveal site clusters in a region of numerous diverse micro-environments. The inhabitants of this region were influenced not only by Safety Harbor, but the Glades and Kissimmee River Valley cultures as well. Evidence also suggests this region was occupied continually for several thousand years. Conclusions addressing the archaeological evidence exhibited by sites located in the inland region and how the relate to the concept of archaeological culture will also be discussed. It is hoped the result of this study will lead to both a better understanding of this portion of the Central Gulf Coast region of Florida during late prehistoric and protohistoric times, as well as encourage a resurgence of spatial pattern studies throughout Florida.