Time Sifters Archaeology Society Newsletter October 2017

OCTOBER -2017 October Program October 18 - at 6:00 PM - Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236 Excavating the Byzantine Church at Tel Kerioth Dr. Steven Derfler Executive Director, Educational Resources, Inc.Dear Member:Hurricanes and Sarasota. That is the subject of this month's Notes from a Time Sifter. In the article, Dr. UziBaram addresses the persistent legend that Sarasota is \"protected\" from hurricanes. The article explores theorigins of the legend, why it is so powerful, and why it is so wrong. He looks at the important role archaeologycan play in looking at and preparing for climate change, both by revealing lessons from the past for those whoassume climate change can be managed, and how the archaeology of hurricanes offers insights into trans-formed landscapes. The first part of the article is below; the full article is on our website.Time Sifters members are participating in local archaeology initiatives (pictures below). In November, we willbe performing follow-up monitoring on a few local archaeological sites to see if there has been any impactfrom our storm season.Your membership renewal date is on the mailing label. If that date is September 2017 or earlier, please renewnow by credit card online at www.Timesifters.org, mailing a check to the address listed at the bottom, or withcash or check at the September meeting.Thanks for being a Time Sifters member!Sherry Svekis, President [email protected] 18, participated in this project. devastated the JordanSelby Library The site of Tel Kerioth is perhaps River Valley.Excavating the the hometown of one of the An international educationalByzantine Church disciples of Jesus (Yehuda, ish consultant, publicat Tel Kerioth Kriyot). The church was apparently speaker, archaeologist, built after the earthquake of 363 historian, researcher,The Arad Archaeology Center of CE, paralleling other Christian teacher and writer, Dr. Derfler hasthe Israeli Antiquities Authority, religious structures built in been uncovering the histories ofHamline University of St. Paul Palestine after this time. The Ancient Civilizations for 40 years.MN, and Educational Resources, church building's final destruction Tracing the development of westernInc. of St. Paul MN, excavated the came as a result of an earth- religions from their roots in theByzantine Church at Tel Kerioth. quake in 747/8 CE.; one that Middle East and Eastern Mediter-It is located at the foot of Mt. ranean countries, Dr. DerflerAmassa, at the southern end of brings insight to current politicalthe Judean Hills, overlooking the and social events, bridging the pastArad Basin. Over three summers, with the future to promote greatera total of 96 volunteers and students understanding between peoplefrom around the world and Israel from different faiths and walks of life.

Notes from a Time SifterClimatic Amnesia: Sarasota and ItsStormy FolkloreBy Uzi Baram, Director of the New College Public Archaeology timely: in the wake of HurricaneLab, Professor of Anthropology, New College of Florida Irma, the Tampa Bay Times offered a story on September 12,Hurricanes leave destruction in on Sarasota. And, if you live or 2017 titled “Did local Indiantheir wake. But time erases the lived in Sarasota, you might mounds save Tampa Bay fromevidence, especially when measured in have guessed the topic: Irma’s worst? Some saydecades or centuries. The absence the legend that the city is yes” (http://www.tampabay.com/encourages a collective amnesia, a protected from hurricanes. As blogs/timesnews/did-local-indian-forgetting that haunts current an inducement to contributing to mounds-save-tampa-bay-from-discussions of climate change. The the story, the researcher offered irmasworst-some-say-anthropologist turned novelist the insight that Sarasota was yes/2337228). While some sayAmitav Ghosh in a recent series of blessed by ancient peoples and yes, this archaeologist says noessays titled the mismatch between the history of region’s Native and it is a statement that seems toobservations and representations past was the focal point for the need to be repeated every fewof climate change as The Great story. I had nothing to say but years to counter local amnesia.Derangement – the failure to the call got me thinking about The Folklore for Hurricanesrecognize what is happening on hurricanes, folklore, and memories of The National Hurricane Centerour planet. The silences are place. And the concerns are sets hurricane season as betweenparticularly striking in Sarasota, June 1st and November 30th.where so many residents are Those who remember 2004 – anrelatively recent arrivals to Florida annus horribilis with the fourleading to amnesia regarding hurricanes that wentclimate. through Florida – know thatIn the aftermath of Hurricane hurricanes can and do devastateIrma, the shock of felled trees, communities in Florida. Inloss of power for days on end, and September 2017, Hurricane Irmathe luck of Sarasota escaping a was projected to target Sarasota;much worse fate led to lots of but while the region suffered theresidents imagining that the region will loss of trees, roofs, and power, theescape the intensity of climate storm moved to the west, sparingchange, a process that is creating us from what seemed like a catastro-stronger storms at a time when phe. So it is easy to assumeour coasts have high density of Sarasota is safe since there hassettlements. The amnesia is imagined been no direct hit in the lifetime ofvia a myth about Sarasota. I have nearly all current inhabitants.faced the story many times. First I am impressed with the continualin 2007 by a Sarasota Herald- reproduction of the legend. I wasTribune reporter and more expan- first asked about Sarasota andsively in July 2014 when I received an hurricanes in 2007 and was quoted inemail from a researcher from the June 18th Sarasota Herald-a television company in the United Tribune as saying: “The gap inKingdom called Wag TV. Theywhere looking to produce a story knowledge is likely part of what keeps the myth in circu- lation.” said Uzi Baram, associ- ate professor of anthropology at New College Notes continued next page ...

Archaeologists in Action Left-hand picture: Time Sifters member Saretta Sparer (right) helping sift for artifacts at Gamble Plantation in June. Pictured with USF professor, Dr. Diane Waldman. Right-hand picture: Time Sifters members Valerie Jackson Bell (middle) and Felicia Silpa (right) help with the analysis of artifacts at Gamble Plantation. Phillippi Estate Park Archaeological Event Archaic Period Interpretive Panel dedication on Saturday, October 14 at 10 a.m. at Phillippi Estate Park. The dedication will take place at the northeast quadrant of the park near the fishing pier. There will be tents, speeches by Dr. Uzi Baram and Board of County Commissioner Al Maio, and then everyone will walk down the shoreline path to the Mansion for displays, exhibits and refreshments. Archaeologists will be on hand to talk with interested public members about archaeology in general, and the Phillippi Manasota site and panels.Notes continued ... worried about hurricanes. dangers that are coming with And hopefully that fear will not warmer temperatures in thein Sarasota. “Folk tales give us soon be forgotten. But hundreds, oceans and the rising sea levelscomfort, so we use something we even thousands, will be moving for coastal communities. Floridacan’t disprove,” Baram said. into this region in the next several faces the challenge of climate“Native Americans to this particular years, without memory of Irma. change, particularly rising searegion are a little past the shadow Some critique the increas- levels. When I arrived in Sarasota,of history.” Baram first heard the ing information available on the to teach at New College, back instory at a dinner party several weather and the sensationalism 1997, the weather was an induce-years ago. “It’s like a lot of urban of television news while many others ment: the sunshine, the warmth,myths; there’s no origin, but (see Albert C. Hine, Don and the Gulf of Mexico’s waters.somehow everyone knows it,” P. Chambers, Tonya D. Clayton, But weather and climate areBaram said. “It really tells us two Mark R. Hafen, and Gary different: the weather is short-things. One, we are very worried T. Mitchum 2016) are working to term while climate is the cumula-about hurricanes. And two, we raise understanding of climate tive picture of weather over thewonder why we’re lucky.” change. long term.After Hurricane Irma most residents Remembering is important in Continue reading this articleare still, quite appropriately, order to confront the looming at http://www.TimeSifters.orgOfficers: Board of Directors Copyright © 2017Sherry Svekis, President Time SiftersArchaeologySociety,Inc.,Darwin \"Smitty\" Smith, Vice Pres. Directors: Evelyn Mangie All rights reserved.Bernice Jones, Secretary Valerie Jackson Bell Sharon McConnell We send newsletters to peopleTBA - Treasurer Robert Bopp Saretta Sparer who have attended or expressedKaren Jensen, Membership Glenn Cooper interestin our lecturesand given us their email address.

Membership Speakers & Events CalendarLifetime: $200 All to be held at 6:00 PMIndividual: $25 Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236Family: $35Sustaining: $50 October 18Student: $10 Excavating the Byzantine Church at Tel Kerioth Dr. Steven Derfler, Ex. Director, Educational Resources, Inc.Pay online at:WWW.TimeSifters.org November 15Or mail checks to: U576 & the Battle of the AtlanticTime Sifters, Inc. Joe Hoyt, Archaeologist for NOAAPO Box 5283Sarasota, FL. 34277 December Holiday Party TBA Time Sifters Archaeology Society A Chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society www.timesifters.org/Time Sifters Archaeology SocietyP. O. Box 5283, Sarasota, FL 34277