the calusa tribe
The Calusa kingdom had an estimated 20,000 people and ranks among the most politically complex groups of hunter-gatherers of the historic world. The first Spanish explorers found that these Indians were not very friendly. This article first appeared in the magazines fall 2020 issue. . The Spanish reported that the chief was expected to take his sister as one of his wives. Circumstantial evidence, primarily from Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, suggests that all of the peoples of southern Florida and the Tampa Bay area, including the Tequesta, Mayaimi, and Tocobaga, as well as the Calusa, spoke dialects of a common language. The Calusa knew of the Spanish before this landing, however, as they had taken in Native American refugees from the Spanish subjugation of Cuba. The Big Calusa Festival is an ambitious creation to get the community out for a fun week of recreation, culture and cleanup, organizers sai. The Calusa people were an important tribe of Florida. Southeastern Archaeology, 33(1), 124. The Calusa were more powerful in number . In a feat of organized labor that was also suggestive of their expansive trade network, the Calusa appear to have brought pine wood to the island from elsewhere in Florida to build the dwelling. Fish stored in the watercourts likely fed the workers who built the massive palace. The Calusa were a very prosperous people. The Calusa were also known for their artistry. Rituals were believed to link the Calusa to their spirit world ( Art by Merald Clark. The Spanish A research project has finally solved an archaeological mystery in America . The Calusa. [10][11][12], Mollusk shells and wood were used to make hammering and pounding tools. [13][11] Artifacts of wood that have been found include bowls, ear ornaments, masks, plaques, "ornamental standards", and a finely carved deer head. By 880, a complex society had developed with high population densities. When Spaniards arrived in southwest Florida in the sixteenth century, they encountered a populous, sedentary, and politically complex society: the Calusa. One shell mound site is Mound Key at Estero Bay in Lee County. Inside a great temple, they observed walls covered by carved and painted wooden masks. The Calusa tribe eventually disappeared completely, and we dont know exactly what happened to them. The Calusa were a Native American tribe that inhabited the southwest coast of Florida. [1], Early Spanish and French sources referred to the tribe, its chief town, and its chief as Calos, Calus, Caalus, and Carlos. Calusa, North American Indian tribe that inhabited the southwest coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to Cape Sable and Cape Florida, together with all the outlying keys. They left 1,700 behind. Nets were woven with a standard mesh size; nets with different mesh sizes were used seasonally to catch the most abundant and useful fish available. The Calusa occupied the southwest region, while the Tequesta, Jega, and Ais tribes were located along the east coast of Southern Florida. They created a variety of crafts, including jewelry, masks, and canoes. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, is a historical figure that has captured the imagination of people for centuries. They were a fishing and shell-gathering people, and they ate a variety of seafood that they caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Historic documents say the Calusa then set fire to Mound Key and fled the island, which also prompted the Spanish to leave. Diseases would ravage their population and force . The king entertained the governor in a building so large that 2,000 people could stand inside. ), Calusa beliefs included a trinity of governing spirits. Rounding a sharp point against the tide was very difficult. It was during this phase of research that the team located and documented the massive kings house, showing it was indeed every bit as impressive as Spanish accounts, which claimed it was large enough to accommodate some 2,000 people. When Pedro Menndez de Avils visited in 1566, the Calusa served only fish and oysters to the Spanish. The chief lived in the main village at the mouth of the Miami River. The Calusa king had the power of life and death over his subjects and was thought by them to be able to intercede with the spirits that sustained the environment's bounty. The Calusa are said to have been a socially complex and politically powerful tribe, and most of southern Florida was controlled by them. People began creating fired pottery in Florida by 2000 BC.[3]. The first recorded contact between the Calusa and Europeans was in 1513, when Juan Ponce de Len landed on the west coast of Florida in May, probably at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, after his earlier discovery of Florida in April. The Calusa king initially allied himself with Menendez, hoping to gain an advantage over his rivals elsewhere in the Florida peninsula.. [19], Little is known of the language of the Calusa. They were farmers to a limited extent but were better noted as expert fishers, daring seamen, and fierce and determined fighters, keeping up their resistance to the Spanish arms and missionary advances after all the rest of Florida had submitted. The men wore deerskin breechcloths. We began with a basic set of questions, said Marquardt. The 2017 excavations were really exciting for a number of reasons, Thompson said. How did the Calusa manage this unusual feat? The archaeologists were surprised to discover the Spanish used a primitive shell concrete known as tabby to stabilize the wall posts of their wooden structures. They traded with other Native American tribes in Florida, as well as with people in Mexico and Central America. ed. This lasted until about 1750, and included the historic Calusa people. They had a very rich culture, and they were known for their elaborate ceremonies and artwork. They arrived in seven vessels and climbed to the peak of Mound Key, a 30-foot-high, human-made island of shells and sand, to greet the king. Prior surface surveys had revealed Spanish ceramics, beads and other artifacts, but the location of the fort hadnt been determined. The signing will provide an opportunity for the public to meet Joseph, an independent scholar of Florida history, and discuss his novel, which tells of the history of the Calusa Indians, who once took up residence on . Native Americans The First Owners of America, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History. A Spanish expedition to ransom some captives held by the Calusa in 1680 was forced to turn back; neighboring tribes refused to guide the Spanish, for fear of retaliation by the Calusa. They built their homes on stilts and wove Palmetto leaves to fashion roofs, but they didn't construct any walls. In 1567 the Spaniards established a mission and fortified post among them, but both seem to have been discontinued soon after, although the tribe came later under Spanish influence. Those few that remained on the mainland were absorbed into the Seminoletribe; however, their language and culture survived up to the Second Seminole Wars close. These massive, rectangular structures built of shell and sediment enclose large areas on both sides of the mouth of Mound Keys great canal, a marine highway nearly 2,000 feet long and about 100 feet wide that bisects the island. 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Different tribes had different names for the sport including . The Calusa Indians did not farm like the other Indian tribes in Florida. If a Calusa killed such an animal, the soul would migrate to a lesser animal and eventually be reduced to nothing.[18]. This class was supported by commoners, who provided them with food and other material goods. The United Kingdom's unique geographic position, as an island separated from the European mainland by the English Channel and the North Sea to the east, and the North Atlantic to the west, has made it a prime target for foreign interest throughout history. Marquardt, William H. (2004). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [Online]Available at: http://www.funandsun.com/1tocf/inf/nativepeoples/calusa.html, www.sanibelhistory.org, 2016. Calusa influence extended over most of south Florida in the sixteenth century. Favored sites were likely occupied for multiple generations. A reconstruction of a Calusa home and terraces, on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History. They made fish bone arrowheads to hunt for animals such as deer. They built their homes and temples on mounds of earth, which they used to defend themselves against attack. [15], The Calusa wore little clothing. The Calusa lived on the coast and along the inner waterways. Tabby was an Old World concrete consisting of lime from burned shells mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. [3] Some Archaic artifacts have been found in the region later occupied by the Calusa, including one site classified as early Archaic, and dated prior to 5000 BC. We could not anticipate the extraordinary preservation of organic materials down below the water table, Marquardt noted. There is evidence that the people intensively exploited Charlotte Harbor aquatic resources before 3500 BC. Some of the "Spanish Indians" (often of mixed Spanish-Indian heritage) who worked at the fishing camps likely were descended from Calusa. By the year 1600, they were carrying on regular trade with Havana, Cuba. 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? You will be redirected to the LC Catalog start page shortly, or continue by clicking the following link: LC Catalog Many smaller tribes were constantly watching for these marauding warriors. In his second voyage, Ponce de Leon received a poisoned arrow that hounded his tight and he died in Cuba the same year in 1521.His decease is attributed to Calusa people. They also claimed authority over the tribes of the east coast, north to about Cape Canaveral. By doing this, the Calusa were able to use the natural resources of the area to their advantage, and create a unique and distinctive landscape. The architectural remains of the kings house were relatively easy to find, but difficult to interpret at first, Marquardt said. The Calusa are said to have been a socially complex and politically powerful tribe, and most of southern Florida was controlled by them. The Calusa (kah LOOS ah) lived on the sandy shores of the southwest coast of Florida. At Mound Key, the Spaniards used primitive tabby as a mortar to stabilize the posts in the walls of their wooden structures. The Calusa was a powerful, complex society who lived on the shores of the southwest Florida coast. Fontaneda was shipwrecked on the east coast of Florida, likely in the Florida Keys, about 1550, when he was thirteen years old. Most of the Calusa people were killed or died from diseases introduced by the Europeans. Archaeologists have long pondered how the Calusa could have grown to a population of some 20,000 and dominated such a vast region without relying on agriculture. Today, the word "Aryan" has become synonymous with all sorts of negative connotations, including theories of racial superiority and white supremacy. Many smaller tribes were constantly watching for these marauding warriors. After suffering decimation by disease, the tribe was destroyed by Creek and Yamasee raiders early in the 18th century. "The Calusa: A Stratified, Nonagricultural Society (With Notes on Sibling Marriage)." The men and boys of the tribe made nets from palm tree webbing to catch mullet, pinfish, pigfish, and catfish. They had a large population and a prosperous economy. By contrast, at an inland site, Platt Island, mammals (primarily deer) accounted for more than 60 percent of the energy from animal meat, while fish provided just under 20 percent. The archaeology of the Calusa is important worldwide in that it illustrates the development of very pronounced hierarchy, inequality, monumentality and large-scale infrastructure by hunter-gatherer-fisher societies, said Chris Rodning of Tulane University, who was not involved with this research. The earliest written descriptions of these people come from Spanish explorers, who sought to convert and conquer them. The 8th Annual Calusa Heritage Day, which will take place this weekend, will offer an assortment of activities for everyone to enjoy while learning about the Calusa Indians. Tabby, also called tabbi or tapia, is made by burning shells to create lime, which is then mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. Two centuries later, they were regarded as veritable pirates, plundering and killing without mercy the crews of all vessels, excepting the Spanish, so unfortunate as to be stranded in their neighborhood. The Caloosahatchee culture inhabited the Florida west coast from Estero Bay to Charlotte Harbor and inland about halfway to Lake Okeechobee, approximately covering what are now Charlotte and Lee counties. Warriors killed all the adult men. Artifacts such as shell tools, weapons, and ornaments are on display in many Florida history museums. Cultivated gourds were used as net floats, and sinkers and net weights were made from mollusk shells. Their use of shell mounds, artistry, and spirituality made them a unique and interesting people. The Calusa Indians. The chief is said to have entertained the governor in a building so large that it could hold 2000 people in it. While a few Calusa individuals may have stayed behind and been absorbed into the Seminole, no documentation supports that. [4], Between 500 and 1000, the undecorated, sand-tempered pottery that had been common in the area was replaced by "Belle Glade Plain" pottery. Honestly, we have explored a very small sample of Mound Key and other nearby island sites., ln the next couple of years, Thompson added, Id like to return to Mound Key to look more closely at the fort and its structures to really delve into Calusa-Spanish interactions.. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History ). They began preliminary investigations of the fort, which was located on Mound 2 and housed one of the first Jesuit missions established in the U.S. [8], Some authors have argued that the Calusa cultivated maize and Zamia integrifolia (coontie) for food. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. The Calusa tribe probably lived in Florida for several hundred years. The Calusa painted their bodies on a regular basis, but there was no report of tattooing among them. [26], For more than a century after the Avils adventure, there was little contact between the Spanish and Calusa. No Zamia pollen has been found at any site associated with the Calusas, nor does Zamia grow in the wetlands that made up most of the Calusa environment. Tracking the Calusa: A Retrospective. Its construction is made entirely of shells and clay. Additionally, it has been suggested that the population of this tribe may have reached 50000 people at one point of time. They were supported by the labor of the majority of the Calusa. The Calusa men were tall and well built with long hair. Carlos was succeeded by his cousin (and brother-in-law) Felipe, who was in turn succeeded by another cousin of Carlos, Pedro. Among most tribes in Florida for which there is documentation, the women wore skirts made of what was later called Spanish moss. ( Public Domain ), Featured image: Calusa people fishing. Said by a Spaniard, Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, who was a captive among them for many years, to mean "fierce people," but it is perhaps more probable that, since it often appears in the form Carlos, it was, as others assert, adopted by the Calusa chief from the name of the Emperor Charles V, about whose greatness he had learned from Spanish prisoners. The Calusa were a Native American people who inhabited what is now known as southwestern Florida. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. Photo source: Moving to Tampa, Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida, 2002. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Calusa were a mound-building people, who constructed large, artificial mounds of earth and shells. [2], Juan Rogel, a Jesuit missionary to the Calusa in the late 1560s, noted the chief's name as Carlos, but wrote that the name of the kingdom was Escampaba, with an alternate spelling of Escampaha. All available connections to the LC Catalog are currently in use. The Calusa also made fish traps, weirs, and fish corrals from wood and cord. The Macuahuitl was an ancient Aztec weapon that could be used by both shamans and warriors. Salvaged goods and survivors from wrecked Spanish ships reached the Calusa during the 1540s and 1550s. According to some authorities their territory also extended inland as far as Lake Okeechobee. Mound Key was thought to be the seat of the powerful Calusa kingdom, and recent archaeological research there has confirmed it was in fact the capital and also revealed the extent of ancient landscape alteration, monumental construction and engineering ingenuity that allowed the Calusas population to grow to an estimated 20,000 without reliance on agriculture. ), Artists conception of town chief at the Calusa town of Tampa (present day Pineland) (Art by Merald Clark. The Calusa made bone and shell gauges that they used in net weaving. They collected materials for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating and sediment samples for archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological analysis. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. They were descendants of Paleo-Indians who inhabited Southwest Florida approximately 12,000 years ago. 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