History in Motion: December 5

Fast facts: Continuing the series on archaeological dating methods, Andrew Douglas developed Dendrochronology, one of the simplest and best understood ways to determine the age of things.

Courtesy of the Marco Island Historical Society

Remember when: Could it be the oil embargo in the1970s or maybe after a hurricane?

Known as tree ring dating, this is done by superimposing, juxtaposing or overlapping ring patterns from slices of tree trunks of known age. Certain known periods of drought and wet weather can be matched to patterns from trees of unknown age in a given geographical area with the same climate. By continuous overlapping, it is possible to extend the known dates back many centuries. This is particularly useful in the American Southwest.

What’s new with the Marco Island Historical Society?

Conservation Collier, the county entity that purchased the Otter property and developed Otter Mound Preserve, is now considering expanding the park by purchasing the “Old Barfield House” from Tommie Barfield’s grandson Jimmy Dyches. Conservation Collier will meet on Dec. 10 to determine the ranking or order of purchase.

The MIHS Board enthusiastically supports the concept of preserving the site of the Barfield House, expanding the Otter Mound Preserve, and turning the house into a Visitors’ Center which would be open three to four days a week. In exchange for this, they would receive a permanent MIHS office and storage space in the home.

If you want to help save the Barfield House, please call Commissioner Donna Fiala at 774-8097 or write to her to 3301 East Tamiami Trail, Naples, 34112, or e-mail Fiala2000@cs.net. The county wants to know your opinion.

What else is new?

Mike Russo of the National Park Service is working with a committee to nominate the Indian Mound on Horr’s Island for a National Historic Landmark.

The mound on Horr’s Island (now called Key Marco) dates from the Archaic Period and is one of the oldest and most important sites in Southwest Florida. The committee members are: Elizabeth Rechtin, Bonnie Hurt, Nancy Richie, Helmut Nichol and Eugene Erjavec, with Jerry Tsandoulis and Betsy Perdichizzi as co-chairs.