HomeMy WebLinkAboutCase Study Appendix A Florida Division of Historical Resources LetterFLORIDA DEPARTMENT Of
RICK SCOTT
Governor
Mr. Francisco J. Garcia
Planning and Zoning Department
City of Miami
P.O. Box 330708
Miami, FL 33233-0708
Re: Request for Technical Assistance
Significant Archaeological Discovery in City of Miami
Dear Mr. Garcia,
KEN DETZNER
Secretary of State
November 4, 2013
At the City of Miami's request, Dr. Timothy Parsons and Dr. Daniel Seinfeld, archaeologists and historic
preservation specialists with the Florida Division of Historical Resources (DHR), conducted a site visit
and assessment of archaeological investigations at site 8DA11 on the Met Square property at the
intersection of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue in downtown Miami. We observed the site in person, conducted
a background literature review, and discussed the site with Mr. Bob Carr and staff from the
Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc. (AHC), staff at Biscayne Engineering (who conducted
three-dimensional laser scanning of the site), and City of Miami and Miami -Dade County planning and
historic preservation professionals.
Based on our observations and investigation, we believe that the archaeological features discovered at
Met Square are very significant. We suggest that every effort be made to investigate, document, and
preserve the site. To that end, it is our opinion that the archaeological investigation conducted up to this
point has been appropriate and thorough. However, further on -site work and the production of a
significant technical/synthetic research report is necessary to bring the work at such a significant site to an
appropriate conclusion.
The discovery of an extensive, well-preserved set of archaeological features such as those at Met Square
is highly unusual in the United States. Typically, archaeological excavation focuses on a sample of a site,
making the identification of complex arrangements of postholes — such as those at Met Square — difficult.
At Met Square, AHC completed a nearly 100% horizontal excavation of the parcel after consultation with
the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and the Florida Bureau of
Archaeological Research, pursuant to §872.05, Florida Statutes. The execution of this excavation
strategy brought to light the precise geometrical arrangements carved into the limestone bedrock. The
arrangements of postholes discovered at this site are far more extensive and complex than those found at
the Miami Circle several years ago.
DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: 850.245.6300 • Facsimile: 850.245.6436 • www.flheritage.com
Commemorating 500 years of Florida history www.vivaflorida.org
VIVA RIORIOA
VIVAKKORN
Mr. Francisco J. Garcia
Page 2
At most archaeological sites, the resource itself is destroyed as soil is removed and artifacts are taken out
of context for evaluation and interpretation. The Met Square site is an exception, because the postholes
carved into the limestone are permanent evidence of prehistoric Native American architecture.
Additionally, the brick -lined well from Fort Dallas and the stairs of the Royal Palm Hotel are tangible
evidence of Miami's dynamic history.
The discovery at Met Square is exceptional, and it offers the City of Miami a unique opportunity to tell
the story of over 2,500 years of Florida history at a single location. Given the site's location and the
archaeological materials collected from the site, it is not inappropriate to consider the area the birthplace
of Miami. The remarkable design and orientation of the postholes carved into the bedrock limestone are
unique in the United States, especially when placed into context with the nearby Miami Circle. The
postholes likely relate to prehistoric architecture, ceremonial structures, a settlement, or all of the above.
Indeed, the features at Met Square represent a pre -European contact urban planning project, and are a rare
example of prehistoric engineering. The features and artifacts discovered at this site have the potential to
significantly contribute to our understanding of South Florida's prehistory. Furthermore, the site contains
the remnants of Fort Dallas, established in 1836 during the Seminole Wars, as well as components of
Henry Flagler's historic Royal Palm Hotel. As one of the last undeveloped lots in downtown Miami, the
City is presented with an opportunity to preserve several components of Miami's rich history for future
generations.
It is our opinion that, if preserved and managed effectively, the Met Square site can become an
economically sustainable heritage tourism location. The unique and significant historic and prehistoric
elements of the site could be a draw for tourists and, if thoughtfully interpreted, would convey the City's
remarkable history and identity to millions of domestic and international visitors. In our judgment, the
site meets the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to the fact that it has
yielded — and has the potential to yield more — information important in prehistory and history. It is also
our opinion that the site is a candidate for designation as a National Historic Landmark, because it
possesses exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting the history of the United States. Today, fewer
than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction.
It would be remiss of us to ignore the plans for development at Met Square. The Met Square
development project and the discovery of an important archaeological site highlight a recurring challenge
for city governments, planners, and resources managers: the struggle to balance historic preservation and
high -impact development. Most professionals expect developers to make reasonable concessions to
ensure that historic properties are recorded or preserved when threatened by development, whether
compelled by state, federal, or local regulation, or in a spirit of cooperation with local preservation groups
and civic authorities. However, subjective perceptions of feasibility and practicality often lead to
disagreement on what constitutes a "good faith effort" on the part of developers and permitting authorities.
In situations such as the one currently faced by the City of Miami — where a unique resource will be
destroyed by development — important questions of value and civic identity are in play, and should
receive careful consideration.
DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: 850.245.6300 • Facsimile: 850.245.6436 • www.flheritage.com
Commemorating 500 years of Florida history www.vivaflorida.org
Mr. Francisco J. Garcia
Page 3
Decisions about development and preservation send messages to citizens of the City, corporations,
visitors, and the world at large. As a cosmopolitan city on the world stage, Miami is both influential and
subject to criticism based on their planning decisions. Deliberate choices made by city leaders and
planners speak not only to business and commerce; they also reflect intangible characteristics of a city
and its people — what a city values in terms of culture, education, and its history, what kind of legacy it
leaves for future generations of citizens, its indefinable sense of place, and how it wishes to be viewed by
the rest of the world (i.e., what message the city wishes to publically project). These considerations are
not simply metropolitan. They speak directly to a city's spirit of identity and sense of community.
Several cities around the world have preserved significant urban heritage sites for interpretation and
posterity. Examples include:
• Pointe-a-Calliere Museum in Montreal (http://www.pacmusee.gc.ca/en/exhibitions/where-
montreal-was-born)
• The Reykjavik 871 museum in Iceland
(http://minj asafnreykj avikur.is/english/desktopde fault.aspx/tabid-4206)
• The African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City
(http://www.nps.gov/afbg/index.htm)
• The River Station depot, and other resources, in Los Angeles State Historic Park
(http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page id=25964)
With all of the above in mind, we offer the following suggestions to the City of Miami for documenting
and preserving the 8DA11 archaeological and historical site at Met Square:
• The City should follow and enforce its historic preservation ordinances
• The City, in consultation with the landowner, developer, consultants, and advisors, should
produce a case study that examines the feasibility and appropriateness of the following options:
1. Complete preservation of the site
2. Modification of development plans to allow for preservation and interpretation
3. Remove and appropriately relocate and interpret a portion of the site
4. Complete destruction of the site as the result of as -planned development
• Archaeologists should remove fill deposits and expose the remainder of the parcel overlying
limestone bedrock in order to document linear posthole features, and possible circles, that went
unrecorded during previous investigations. Documentation should include the same three-
dimensional laser scanning used to record and map the features currently exposed.
• Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc. (ACH) archaeologists should complete an
interim report documenting the work completed up to this point. The report should discuss the
site within its wider contextual significance and relationship to other sites in downtown Miami,
including the Miami Circle, the Granada site, and the Brickell Point Site. This report should be
completed as quickly as reasonably possible.
• ACH archaeologists should work to complete artifact analysis and technical report production in
a timely fashion. Given the importance of this site, a technical report should be completed within
one year of the completion of on -site activities (excavation, mapping, etc.).
• ACH should collaborate with research partners to produce scholarly works (published reports in
peer -reviewed journals, monographs, etc.) related to Met Square and its relationship to other sites
in the immediate area and wider region.
•
DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: 850.245.6300 • Facsimile: 850.245.6436 • www.flheritage.com
Commemorating 500 years of Florida history www.vivaflorida.org
Mr. Francisco J. Garcia
Page 4
We appreciate the opportunity to consult with the City of Miami on such a significant archaeological and
historical site. We believe that every reasonable option for preservation should be explored and discussed,
as the Met Square site tells the story of Miami's last 2,500 years, from Native American habitation to
intensive urban development.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions or concerns, as we are happy to continue
providing assistance to the City of Miami in its efforts to document, interpret, and preserve this
significant historical discovery.
Most Sincerely,
Timothy A. Parsons, Ph.D., RPA
Bureau of Historic Preservation
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
for Compliance and Review
Daniel Seinfeld, Ph.D.
Bureau of Archaeological Research
Senior Archaeologist
DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: 850.245.6300 • Facsimile: 850.245.6436 • www.flheritage.com
Commemorating 500 years of Florida history www.vivaflorida.org