To many people in South Florida, and "oldtimer" is someone who has lived there for more than five years. Prehistoric Peoples of South Florida considers the culture history of the real South Florida "oldtimers" dating from 10,000 B.C. through the invasion by Europeans and analyzes the ways in which they adapted to their environment through time—or caused their environment to adapt to them.

South Florida is a biological island, its plant communities circumscribed by the southern limits of frost. Its peoples were distinct from those to the north and were less studied by scholars. In recent years the pace of research has increased, but there has been no attempt at synthesis since John M. Goggin wrote his still-unpublished manuscript on the Glades nearly half a century ago. Prehistoric Peoples of South Florida assembles the available knowledge and discusses competing theories, and does so in terms that are understandable to the general reader. McGoun outlines a cultural system that maintained an impressive continuity for 10,000 years—before being destroyed by two centuries of European contact.



 

William E. McGoun is a professional journalist of thirty-four years and currently serves as senior editorial writer of The Palm Beach Post in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the author of numerous articles as well as A Biographical History of Broward County and Hannandale.

"With this short volume on the past archaeological work and cultures of south Florida . . . the latest information and discussions of south Florida by investigators is presented in a readable and readily understandable manner that will make a valuable resource for professional and interested amateur alike."

—North American Archaeologist

"McGoun has produced a well-written, comprehensive book that is essential reading for all those interested in the archaeology and ethnohistory of South Florida. It is presented in a very readable and enjoyable style. This book is the best introduction to the prehistory of one of the most important and interesting regions of North America."

—Randolph J. Widmer, University of Houston