RON DESANTIS LAUREL M.

LEE
Governor Secretary of State

Mr. Kyle Kennedy February 13, 2020

Seafarer’s Quest, LLC
14497 Dale Mabry Hwy, Ste 209N
Tampa, Florida 33618

RE: 1A-31 Permit No. 2014.04 Seafarer’s Quest, LLC Response to DHR from January 15, 2020

Mr. Kennedy:

Our office would like to offer clarification and additional guidance on this matter. The question at hand is
whether “red clay” (as described on pg. 45 of the interim report submitted on August 29, 2019) is
associated with prehistoric archaeological material. Disturbing a prehistoric archaeological soil stratum
would be a violation of permit 2014.04, making it imperative to verify the nature of this deposit prior to
proceeding with activities authorized under the permit.

On a September 20, 2019 conference call, BAR and Seafarer’s Quest agreed that core samples would be
taken for analysis. To date, core samples have not been collected or analyzed. BAR once again requests
that core samples be collected, following appropriate research design and archaeological methods, from
the sediment in question. These samples should be analyzed by a qualified archaeologist or
geoarchaeologist to determine if the sediment is or is not prehistoric in nature. If terrestrial/organic
sediments are captured within the core, radiocarbon dating could quickly establish the approximate age of
the deposit. It should be noted that if the sediment in question is associated with prehistoric material or is
otherwise determined to be an intact stratum more than approximately 300 years old there is no potential
for the identification and/or recovery of historic artifacts, such as those associated with shipwrecks, in or
below that sediment layer. Such sediment has been identified in Florida’s nearshore areas in the recent
past. In order to put the question of the stratum’s antiquity to rest and move forward knowledgably,
please:

1. Provide a proposal for core sample collection methodology and analysis.

2. Following approval, collect core samples and conduct appropriate analysis as outlined in the
proposal.
3. Include the methods, analysis, and results in an updated interim report.

Sincerely,

Rachel Thompson, M.A.

1A-31 Permit Manager, Division of Historical Resources

Division of Historical Resources

R.A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street• Tallahassee, Florida 32399
850.245.6300 • 850.245.6436 (Fax) • FLHeritage.com