History
Inspiration for a regional public archaeology network for Florida came from established and successful programs in Arkansas and Louisiana.
On behalf of the University of West Florida (UWF) Dr. Judy Bense first proposed the concept for a Florida network to Secretary of State Katherine Harris in 1999. In 2002, the local legislative delegation requested a formal proposal, which was prepared in 2003 in conjunction with the Florida Division of Historical Resources (DHR) and legislative staff. In 2004 the University of West Florida made this proposal a top priority and it passed with no funding. Funding for the Florida Public Archaeology Network was included in the University of West Florida Budget in 2005.
After passage of the enabling legislation in 2004, UWF President John Cavanaugh provided funds to plan and develop the Network. A steering committee was created to develop a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between UWF and the Division of Historical Resources. The MOA, which provides basic guidance on the development and operation of the Network, was signed on July 1, 2005, the same day that legislative funding for the Network became available.
The Florida Public Archaeology Network will consist of a Coordinating Center at the University of West Florida and up to eight Regional Centers hosted by other institutions. These centers and the professional staff housed at each will have public archaeology as their sole occupation. Regional Centers of the Network will not conduct compliance archaeology, act as regulatory agents of DHR, or regularly conduct large-scale excavations.
The signing of the Florida Public Archaeology Network MOA against the backdrop of ongoing UWF public archaeology excavations of Colonial Pensacola.
Seated from left to right: State Archaeologist Ryan Wheeler; Division of Historical Resources Director Fred Gaske; Assistant Secretary of State Candace Crawford; UWF President John Cavanaugh. Standing right to left: Pensacola Archaeological Society President John Crane and Department of State Legislative Affairs Director Rivers Bufford III.