Understanding Shell Mound Science will be the focus of Marine Discovery Center’s November Discovery Lecture Series.
Registered professional archaeologist Rebecca L. Harris (pictured below) will be the guest presenter on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. in MDC’s Learning Lab.
Harris is the founder and director of Smyrnea Archaeological Research Institute (SARI), which was established in 2017. SARI is based in New Smyrna Beach, home of the original Smyrnea British colony.
In her presentation at MDC, Harris will discuss once plentiful shell mounds and middens of the Halifax-Mosquito Lagoon corridor, as well as what is known and unknown about them. She also will discuss the techniques that archaeologists use to push the boundaries of scientific inquiry to learn about prehistoric human habitation, including environmental management strategies.
Recent findings at New Smyrna’s Old Fort Mound have provided a new and novel avenue of paleoclimatic inquiry. Harris has used hundreds of marine mollusks to better understand a variety of environmental conditions in this region of Florida.
A registered professional archaeologist since 2001, Harris began her career 40 years ago as a “tween” in Northern Kentucky at a local museum’s archaeology field school. Her work has since focused on the Southeastern United States and includes working in all regions of Florida.
Harris holds advanced degrees from the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University. She recently was named a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
SARI was founded to focus on prehistoric and historic archaeology of Southeast Volusia County in order to provide a comprehensive summary of archaeological work to date.
MDC’s Discovery Lecture Series occurs on the first Thursday of each month unless otherwise indicated. The lectures are open to the public at no charge, but donations to the center are always appreciated. Pre-registration is required and may be done online or by phone at 386.428.4828.
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