Pioneer in Space and Time

"Weisman's biography is a fascinating study of one of the founders of modern Florida archaeology. . . . It is a pleasure to read a mature scholar and an engaging writer tackling such an interesting subject in an innovative way."---James J. Miller, Bureau of Archaeological Research, Florida Division of Historical Resources

"A must-read for anyone interested in Florida archaeology and/or the history of archaeology in the state of Florida . . . a wonderful portrait that will captivate its audience. At last I have met John Goggin, a fascinating man."---Marvin T. Smith, Valdosta State University

This biography of John Mann Goggin recounts the story of Florida archaeology from its 19th-century beginnings to the present through the life of its most influential pioneer, a charismatic personality who, more than any other individual, shaped and reshaped Florida archaeology. It is a story of a time and place long vanished, when Florida fieldwork was always an adventure.
Florida archaeology has been influencing the development of archaeological content and theory on a national level for more than a century and Goggin has been a major participant in this evolution. This account reveals the person as well as the archaeologist and examines how Goggin's personal life influenced his way of working and thinking. Weisman critically evaluates Goggin's contributions to the field and also the impact of his work on major themes and trends in Florida archaeology, among them the strong culture-area approach that continues to serve as a foundation for current applications.

Until now, Goggin has remained an enigma to most professional archaeologists, even to many who knew him. This biography explores his intellectual development and the context of his ideas and accomplishments: he established the state's first academic Department of Anthropology (at the University of Florida), pioneered scientific underwater archaeology and historical archaeology, and spearheaded the first major archaeological studies of Spanish colonial material culture in Florida and the Caribbean.
 
Weisman integrates interviews with Goggin's friends, colleagues, and former students with personal and academic papers and his own retracing of Goggin's footsteps. Supplemented with 23 b&w illustrations, Pioneer in Space and Time is a vivid portrait of Goggin's singular motivation and the influence of his vision on the modern practice of Florida archaeology.

Brent Richards Weisman is associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida.