Shell Mound Hurricane Recovery Update

from Lukas Desjardins, member of Friends' Board of Directors and UF graduate student of public archaeology

Continued post-hurricane recovery is underway at Shell Mound. During the University of Florida’s spring break in mid March, our team of archaeologists conducted another round of excavations, this time continuing from the base of the escarpment on the south ridge that was excavated this January. Further analysis of this round of excavations will be forthcoming, however we are able to to reach the bottom of the shell deposits using a bucket auger. 

Field crew after a long week of excavations at Shell Mound

Excavated unit at Shell Mound

In addition to on-the ground excavation, we are working on developing methods for analyzing hurricane impacts at Shell Mound and neighboring sites using high tech LiDAR data collected by the GatorEye unmanned flying laboratory at UF. LiDAR is a technology which uses laser scans to create three-dimensional models of the earth’s surface. 

2018 GatorEye DEM of Shell Mound, highlighting portions of the south arm

2024 GatorEye DEM of Shell Mound, highlighting portions of the south arm

By comparing data collected in 2018 and 2024, we have been able to detect with a high resolution exactly how hurricanes Helene and Idalia have changed the surface of Shell Mound. Early results of analysis indicate that as a result of the 2023 and 2024 hurricane season, approximately 550 cubic meters of shell were displaced. Areas with the greatest impact were along the south ridge and the northern road, where relatively recent human impacts have disturbed the original slope of Shell Mound. Less severe impacts were also found at the southern end of the site, where past Shell Mining also disturbed the original slope.  ​

Map of Erosion and deposition between 2018 and 2024 at Shell Mound. Blue represents areas of deposition, and brown represents areas of erosion.

​Results from this analysis will be used to assist in long-term planning and disaster mitigation efforts at Shell Mound. We are currently working to develop a predictive model for storm impacts at Shell Mound which can also be applied to other threatened sites in the Lower Suwannee. Additional data collected on neighboring sites such as Komar and Richard’s Island will be used to test the applicability of the model to other sites in the region. In the long term, predictive modelling will allow us to identify which parts of each site are most likely to be affected by future storm events, and to focus our research resources on areas which are the most vulnerable. ​

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See Lukas's earlier post about post Hurricane Heléne  rescue operations at Shell Mound here.