Archaeologists Uncover 18th-Century Clues to British Rule in Florida After Spanish Reign

The city of St. Augustine -- featuring its ancient structures and imposing stone fortress -- stands as a lasting testament to Spain’s rich history in Florida, predating the existence of the United States by many generations. However, during the latter part of the 18th century, specifically over two decades, Great Britain held control of the area. Recently, archaeologists have unearthed some of the British occupation sites they had been searching for years.

City archaeologists discovered a dry moat belonging to a British redoubt—a fortified military post—constructed in 1781 during their excavation efforts last autumn. The digging concluded recently within the Lincolnville district of the city, paving the way for the development of a new standalone house.

During St. Augustine’s 20-year British occupation," explained city archaeologist Andrea White, "they constructed seven of these fortifications known as redoubts. However, none have been discovered through archaeological means so far. While we possess approximate locations based on historical records and their presence on old maps, concrete archaeological proof eluded us until now.

The Spanish army constructed the Castillo de San Marcos In the latter part of the 17th century, the fort still stands on the west bank of Florida’s Matanzas Bay, now designated as a national monument instead of serving as an active military base.

In 1763, when the British gained control of Florida, St. Augustine was already fortified with substantial structures built by the Spanish. However, British officers worried about potential attacks coming from a nearby river and consequently directed the establishment of outposts along the western boundary of the town.

White noted that Britain's short tenure in St. Augustine, which concluded alongside the end of the American Revolution in 1783, has mostly faded from memory over the years. The uncovering of the fort offers an opportunity to rediscover a fragment of overlooked history.

That's what makes these British redoubts intriguing; they're the sole fortifications constructed by the British," White explained. "All the other structures in St. Augustine or nearby areas that people know well were erected by the Spanish first. The British merely reclaimed them.

According to White, this structure came to light due to a distinctive archaeological preservation law implemented by St. Augustine back in 1986. Established in 1565, the town stands as the longest continually inhabited area within the U.S., having once been under European control. In order to record and safeguard its historical legacy, St. Augustine operates an archaeology program which forms part of the city’s planning and permitting division.

We have an opportunity to step in and record whatever is present before construction begins," White stated. "Our aim isn’t to halt construction; rather, we want some time to enter the site, document potential findings, gain deeper insights into our past, after which the project can proceed.

White was aware that the region undergoing development boasted a rich past, dating back to a Native American mission in the early 1700s. It was subsequently transformed into an agricultural plantation before witnessing the establishment of the Lincolnville neighborhood post-Civil War.

So we were aware that there might be several hundred years of history associated with the property, but we're quite thrilled to uncover actual proof," White stated. "The evidence revealed a substantial moat approximately 15 feet wide, which was likely part of the defensive wall.

The researchers discovered very few artifacts at the location and remain uncertain regarding the exact dimensions and form of the fort. However, they managed to retrieve numerous varieties of seeds. According to White, they're collaborating with a paleoethnobotanist—an expert in understanding human-plant interactions—to uncover details on the construction and usage of this edifice. It's conceivable that plants such as Spanish bayonet or prickly pear cacti might have been employed for soil stabilization purposes or to hinder advancing troops.

“We are quite optimistic that we may uncover valuable insights from the plant specimens we have collected,” White stated.

Jason Heidgerken, who is the contractor handling the site where the fort’s moat was discovered, mentioned that the city's archaeological efforts might lead to some delays. However, he noted that both White and her team communicated very effectively with him, allowing him to modify his schedules accordingly.

I've been in St. Augustine since 1980 personally, and one of the draws is its rich history," Heidgerken stated. "Therefore, if you plan to reside there and engage in such businesses, it should be anticipated, and you must possess the necessary patience.

Throughout the last forty years, the city’s archaeology initiative has finished over 1,200 undertakings. Researchers not just gathered information from Spanish colonial times However, also including Native American settlements and villages dating back 4,000 years.

I genuinely find what the city does quite impressive. Personally, I'm a history enthusiast," Heidgerken stated. "I believe it's really interesting.