Oysters Save Artifacts

I previously talked about oyster reefs. This week's blog is a history lesson about the oysters and some artifacts at the GTM estuary. Oysters can pretty much offer ecosystem services wherever they happen to thrive. At the estuary, oysters also have an historic function. They help preserve important archaeological artifacts buried dangerously near an eroding shoreline.

A vast oyster reef once flourished in the Tolomato

River along the shoreline of Guana Peninsula, which you can see at the end of the trails in the estuary. In the past, the reefs protected the shore and salt marsh grasses, which also helped stabilize the sediment.

In those days an area of the Peninsula known as Wright's Landing proved to be a haven for early European settlers making their way from St. Augustine to farm fertile land near the riverbanks. That was before the shore's protective oyster reefs died out due to over fishing and storm events. Later, persistent wave action from powerboats helped diminish the reefs and further erode the shore.

Wright's Landing harbors an abundance of historically significant archaeological artifacts. Remnants of wooden docks along the bank provide evidence of shipping activities from former indigo plantations. Leftovers of indigo plants linger to this day as reminders of the Plantation owned by then Florida governor, James Grant, during St. Augustine's British period in the 1760s. These and many other relics in the vicinity, some dating from the pre-Columbian and Timucuan Indian eras, have an important place in the eventful history of greater St. Augustine and the Guana Peninsula.

Restoring and monitoring oyster reefs became an urgent mission at the GTM Research Reserve to protect these historic valuables and save the shoreline. Staff, volunteers, restaurant owners supplying materials, and students of all ages were drawn together over several years in a labor-intensive effort to restore the oyster reef to its original state. The student teams also replanted salt marsh grasses to help stabilize the shore.

Another artifact nearby is endangered in much the same way. Slightly north of Wright's Landing is a naturally preserved rock well built by Minorcan farmers in the early 1800s. This beautiful little well is now temporarily shored up by a wooden frame and rocks, but it sits vicariously on the edge of an eroding embankment known as Shell Bluff.

Shell Bluff

Discussions have begun to try to determine a means to permanently shore up the bluff or in some other way save this unique well.

Minorcan Well

If you are visiting, or live in the Jacksonville or St. Augustine areas, be sure to take the Guided Cultural Hike offered on the first Saturday of every month at the GTM Research Reserve. You'll learn additional history about the Minorcan Well, indigo plantations, and much more!