The EDC is hosting a free kids' St. Patrick's Day Crafts program this Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 2 pm. Call 386-615-7081 to reserve your spot!

MDC March Lecture Looks At Native Coastal People

“Living Off the Water: A Look at Florida’s Native Coastal Peoples” will be the topic of the Marine Discovery Center’s March public lecture.

Emily Jane Murray, a public archaeologist with the Florida Public Archaeology Network in St. Augustine, Fla., will be the guest speaker for the presentation, set for Thursday, March 21, 2019 starting at 6:30 p.m. The lecture is hosted by the Marine Discovery Center, located at 520 Barracuda Boulevard in New Smyrna Beach.

For more than 14,000 years, native Floridians utilized Florida’s bountiful resources for food, shelter and tools. On the coast, these native people favored estuarine and marine resources, even after the advent of agriculture. The presentation will explore how archaeologists have uncovered clues about the inhabitants of Florida’s northeast coast and how modern residents can benefit from knowledge of the past.

Murray has worked as an archaeologist throughout the southeastern United States and has created numerous outreach tools, including videos, activities and museum displays. She currently works as a public archaeology coordinator for the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Northeast region.

She also serves on the board of the Florida Anthropological Society. Her interests include Florida’s prehistoric archaeology, historic cemeteries and public archaeology and interpretation.

The March lecture is open to the public at no charge and no reservations are required. Murray’s presentation will be held in the new Hunter Amphitheater located behind the Marine Discovery Center for the official “soft-opening” of the new facility.

Some seating will be available, but guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets for the presentation. The facility is wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant. Early arrival is recommended.

The lecture will be followed by “Shadows and Reflections: Florida’s Lost People,” a short film on native coastal people. In the event of inclement weather, the presentation and film will be held indoors at the center.

For more information about the lecture, contact the Marine Discovery Center at 386-428-4828.