St. Augustine has a new archaeologist in Andrea White. Can you think of a more fitting setting for excavations? Andrea lived in Tallahassee before studying anthropology at UF. “I’ve always considered Florida home,” she says. Our city seemed to beckon her until she laid down roots in its storied soil (UF tends to be a launching pad that sends beachgoers to our quaint coast).
Andrea had her sights set on archaeology early in life since her dad is a history buff and would often take her to historic landmarks. Andrea attended the College of William & Mary for her archaeology graduate program, and she is now completing her Ph.D. through Louisiana State University.
Some of Andrea’s first professional assignments took her underwater. She helped deconstruct the 1997 Industry shipwreck. “Archaeology,” laughs Andrea, “is not as glamorous as people think.” And she describes her work as “controlled destruction.” Her position allows her to piece together lives not well displayed in public record, giving voice to the underrepresented.
Andrea’s days often involve reporting to a lab for field work prep. While in the field, Andrea works with volunteers before heading back to her office to tackle administrative tasks, research, and impact studies. She loves living in a city that “recognizes the importance of archaeology.”
Learn more about City Archaeology at www.citystaug.com/archaeology. Photography by Brian Miller.
