What happened to these fierce sailing Indians? As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Artifacts such as shell tools, weapons, and ornaments are on display in many Florida history museums. Little is known about their trading practices, but it is believed that they traded extensively with other Native American tribes in the area, as well as with Europeans. The Calusa were a matrilineal society, with power and status passing through the female line. The Calusa (kah LOOS ah) lived on the sandy shores of the southwest coast of Florida. By the constant invasions of the Creek and other Indian allies of the English, they were driven from the mainland and forced to take refuge on the Florida Keys. Radiocarbon dating of carbonized wood, a deer bone and a shell verified the forts mid-16th-century date. One of the most notable traditions of the Calusa was their use of shell mounds. Although many others survived the shipwreck, only Fontaneda was spared by the tribe in whose territory they landed. Well take a look at a few such legends, including those among the Choctaw and the Comanches of the United States down to the Manta of Peru. There was little change in the pottery tradition after this. They had a reputation from being a fierce, war-like people, especially among European explorers and smaller tribes. Shell mounds are hills of discarded seashells, which the Calusa created by depositing the shells of marine creatures they had eaten. But Widmer argues that the evidence for maize cultivation by the Calusa depends on the proposition that the Narvez and de Soto expeditions landed in Charlotte Harbor rather than Tampa Bay, which is now generally discounted. The king entertained the governor in a building so large that 2,000 people could stand inside. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very long time. Marquardt and Victor Thompson of the University of Georgia are co-directing research at Mound Key, which has a complex arrangement of shell midden mounds, canals, watercourts and other features. Calusa means "fierce people," and they The Calusa wove nets from palm-fiber cord. Native Americans The First Owners of America, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History. 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. Figuring out how to shore up the walls of wooden buildings using a very early kind of tabby architecture is impressive and represents creative thinking and ingenuity in an unfamiliar and challenging setting, said Marquardt. Fish stored in the watercourts likely fed the workers who built the massive palace. Different tribes had different names for the sport including . [4], Between 500 and 1000, the undecorated, sand-tempered pottery that had been common in the area was replaced by "Belle Glade Plain" pottery. The chief is said to have entertained the governor in a building so large that it could hold 2000 people in it. They traveled by dugout canoes, which were made from hollowed-out cypress logs approximately 15 feet long. [16], Ceremonial or otherwise artistic masks have been discovered and were previously described by the Spanish who first encountered the Calusa. Their use of shell mounds, artistry, and spirituality made them a unique and interesting people. They made fish bone arrowheads to hunt for animals such as deer. Tabby was an Old World concrete consisting of lime from burned shells mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. They were supported by the labor of the majority of the Calusa. The Calusa were eventually decimated by European diseases, and by the late 18th century they were a largely extinct people. The mission was closed after only a few months. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. Instead of planting crops in sand, they created fishing nets with palm tree webbing and spearheads from shells found on the shallow ocean floor or shore line. This language family includes languages spoken by Native American tribes in the Southeastern United States, including the Alabama, Coushatta, Koasati, and Mikasuki languages. Relying on aquatic resources, the Calusa developed into a powerful, tributary chiefdom prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century, and occasionally expanded their reign to include other southern Florida tribes. 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. While thousands of Calusa people were enslaved, about 270 people, including Calusa nobles, escaped to the Keys where, after the last raid by the Creeks on May 17, 1760, the surviving 60-70 Calusa . This class was supported by commoners, who provided them with food and other material goods. Commoners supported the nobility and provided them with food and other material necessities. [29], Approximate Calusa core area (red) and political domain (blue). This is still a popular sport today. The Calusa were a very prosperous people. Spanish admiral Pedro Menndez de Avils (1519-1574) by Francisco de Paula Mart (1762-1827) ( Public Domain ). 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The two largest native groups were the Timucua and the Calusa. A dozen words for which translations were recorded and 50 or 60 place names form the entire known corpus of the language. The Calusa also used spears, hooks, and throat gorges to catch fish. The Franciscans established a mission there in the late 17th century, but the Calusa evicted them after a few months time. [Online]Available at: https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/sflarch/research/calusa-domain/, floridahistory.org, 2016. This page was last edited on 1 April 2023, at 04:02. Environmentalists and conservation groups protect many of these remaining shell mounds. Calusa political influence and control also extended over other tribes in southern Florida, including the Mayaimi around Lake Okeechobee, and the Tequesta and Jaega on the southeast coast of the peninsula. 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. Some of the "Spanish Indians" (often of mixed Spanish-Indian heritage) who worked at the fishing camps likely were descended from Calusa. 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. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. They may also have traded agricultural products, such as maize and cassava. According to some authorities their territory also extended inland as far as Lake Okeechobee. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Hardwood forests covered the land and the climate was . The Calusa were also known for their art, which is characterized by its intricate designs. The Calooshahatchee River, which means "River of the Calusa," was their main waterway. The chief's house was described as having two big windows, suggesting that it had walls. 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.. Supported in part by a grant from National . Engineering the courts required an intimate understanding of daily and seasonal tides, hydrology and the biology of various fish species, said Thompson. At the time of first European contact, the Caloosahatchee culture region formed the core of the Calusa domain. The Calusa Indians traveled in 15-foot dug out canoes. 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. An analysis of faunal remains at one coastal habitation site, the Wightman site (on Sanibel Island), showed that more than 93 percent of the energy from animals in the diet came from fish and shellfish, less than 6 percent of the energy came from mammals, and less than 1 percent came from birds and reptiles. The Calusa Tribe had a large population and were well-organized. All available connections to the LC Catalog are currently in use. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Calusa also made fish traps, weirs, and fish corrals from wood and cord. Today, the word "Aryan" has become synonymous with all sorts of negative connotations, including theories of racial superiority and white supremacy. The Calusa knew of the Spanish before this landing, however, as they had taken in Native American refugees from the Spanish subjugation of Cuba. Their art was heavily influenced by their environment, and many of their creations featured marine motifs. It was during this time that the team located the Spanish fort Fort San Antn de Carlos, named for the Catholic patron saint of lost things that historic documents said was built near Caalus house in 1566. [Online]Available at: http://www.funandsun.com/1tocf/inf/nativepeoples/calusa.html, www.sanibelhistory.org, 2016. During the Calusa's reign the Florida coastline extended roughly 60 miles further into the Gulf of Mexico. They determined that the enclosures, which were built on a foundation of oyster shells, walled off portions of the estuary, serving as traps and short-term holding pens for fish before they were eaten, smoked, or dried for later consumption. The Calusa: "The Shell Indians". Living and surviving on the coast caused the tribesmen to become great sailors. This now makes three southwest Florida sites with wet-site preservation of such items as wood, cordage and netting: the Pineland Site Complex, Key Marco and now Mound Key.. Previous indigenous cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years. Different tribes and regions had their own games and traditions. [26], For more than a century after the Avils adventure, there was little contact between the Spanish and Calusa. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Apart from that, shells are said to have been used by the Calusa to make all sorts of things, including tools, jewelry, utensils, and even spearheads for fishing and hunting. Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, is believed to be the wealthiest person in history, with a net worth of $400 billion in today's dollars. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, is a historical figure that has captured the imagination of people for centuries. In 1711, the Spanish helped evacuate 270 Indians, including many Calusa, from the Florida Keys to Cuba (where almost 200 soon died). Shell spears were made for fishing and hunting. By interceding with these spirits, it was believed that the chief was ensuring that his people would be well-supplied by the land. This tribe was the first one that the Spanish explorers wrote home about in 1513. It is documented that their power and influence extended over several other tribes in the area. The Caloosahatchee Region". Milanich, J. T. (2004). They first encountered Europeans in 1513 when, with a fleet of 80 canoes, they boldly attacked Ponce de Len, who was about to land on their coast, and after an all-day fight compelled their enemy to withdraw. They were a very innovative and prosperous tribe, and had a number of traditions that set them apart from other tribes in the area. According to eyewitness accounts, in 1566 over 4,000 people gathered to witness ceremonies in which the Calusa king made an alliance with Spanish governor Menndez de Avils. In a report from 1697, the Spanish noted 16 houses in the Calusa capital of Calos, which had 1,000 residents. The Calusa (said to mean fierce people ) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. Researchers have previously hypothesized the watercourts were designed to hold fish, but this was the first attempt to study the structures systematically, including when they were built and how that timing correlates with other Calusa construction projects, Marquardt said. Known as the first shell collectors, the Calusa used shells as tools, utensils, building materials, vessels for domestic and ceremonial use and for personal adornment. Towns throughout south Florida sent tribute to the Calusa king. They were known for their skill in battle, and they were able to successfully resist the Spanish and other European settlers who attempted to invade their territory. Shell mounds can still be found today in many parts of southern Florida. Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, an early chronicler of the Calusa, described "sorcerers in the shape of the devil, with some horns on their heads," who ran through the town yelling like animals for four months at a time. They were a fishing and shell-gathering people, and they ate a variety of seafood that they caught in the Gulf of Mexico. As Cushing noted and as more recent studies have revealed, they dug extensive waterways or canals (sometimes as large as 4 feet deep, 20 feet wide, and 3 miles long) that crossed Key Marco and the rest of the region. This use of marriages to secure alliances was demonstrated when Carlos offered his sister Antonia in marriage to the Spanish explorer Pedro Menndez de Avils in 1566. Tamara Jager Stewart is the assistant editor of American Archaelogy and the Conservancys Southwest region projects director. [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. In 1521, Ponce de Len returned to southwest Florida to plant a colony, but the Calusa drove the Spanish out, mortally wounding Ponce de Len. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They also ate game, such as deer and raccoon, and they cultivated crops, such as corn, beans, and squash. [19], Little is known of the language of the Calusa. 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. They were skilled fishermen and their economy was based on fishing and shellfish. This lasted until about 1750, and included the historic Calusa people. We could not anticipate the extraordinary preservation of organic materials down below the water table, Marquardt noted. The men were responsible for work away from the home, like hunting and raiding. 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. It is based on the Creek and Mikasuki (languages of the present-day Seminole and Miccosukee nations) ethnonym for the people who had lived around the Caloosahatchee River (also from the Creek language). A team has uncovered the foundations of a large dwelling and this is Several Native American tribes have passed down legends of a race of white giants who were wiped out. Many Calusa were captured and sold as slaves. This site is believed to have been the capital of the Calusa, as well as its military stronghold and ceremonial center. Marquardt, W. H. (2014). Escampaba may be related to a place named Stapaba, which was identified in the area on an early 16th-century map. The Spanish documented four cases of known succession to the position of paramount chief, recording most names in Spanish form. [14], The Calusa lived in large, communal houses which were two stories high. They recovered various types of Spanish artifacts such as majolica ceramics, hand-wrought nails and spikes, a bale seal and olive jar sherds, as well as native artifacts. Calusa Tribe. Certain ceremonies were performed to seal the alliance (and perhaps also as a display of the might of the Calusa), and was witnessed by over 4000 people. The Calusa tribe was a Native American tribe that lived in what is now southern Florida. ), Recommended Books, Videos & Places to Visit. The Calusa were a fishing people. When Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain in 1763, the last remnants of the tribes of South Florida went to Cuba. Undecorated pottery belonging to the early Glades culture appeared in the region around 500 BC. One illustration of the sophistication of the Calusa can be found in eyewitness accounts of an event in 1566. The Calusa was a powerful, complex society who lived on the shores of the southwest Florida coast. The Macuahuitl was an ancient Aztec weapon that could be used by both shamans and warriors. The Calusa have long fascinated archaeologists because they were a fisher-gatherer-hunter society that attained unusual social complexity, said William Marquardt, curator emeritus of South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography at the Florida Museum of Natural History. The Calusa tribe died out in the late 1700s. They were a very innovative and prosperous tribe, and had a number of traditions that set them apart from other tribes in the area. Other tribes farmed the land in their territories, but the Calusa tribe fished along coastal waters. Where was the chief of the Calusa tribe? Fontaneda was shipwrecked on the east coast of Florida, likely in the Florida Keys, about 1550, when he was thirteen years old. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The Calusa kingdom was eventually devastated by European diseases as well as slave raids by enemy tribes. 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. The researchers used ground penetrating radar and LiDAR to locate and map the forts structures, which they then partially excavated. Archaeologists have excavated many of these mounds to learn more about these extinct people. By the early 1600s the Calusa returned to Mound Key and reestablished their capital. People began creating fired pottery in Florida by 2000 BC.[3]. The Carolinan colonists supplied firearms to the Creek and Yemasee, but the Calusa, who had isolated themselves from Europeans, had none. Indeed, given the results of recent research, they are now considered one of the most politically complex groups of non-agriculturalists in the ancient world. What did the Calusa Indians do for a living? However, their numbers began to decline in the late 1700s, and by the 1800s they were no longer a major force in southern Florida. "Calusa". By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Menndez married Carlos' sister, who took the baptismal name Doa Antonia at conversion. However, it is likely that they were eventually assimilated into other tribes in the area. The Calusa. Re-entering the area in 1614, Spanish forces attacked the Calusa as part of a war between the Calusa and Spanish-allied tribes around Tampa Bay. [15], The Calusa wore little clothing. Excavation of the watercourts yielded artifacts like cordage that are not normally preserved at archaeological sites. The Calusa occupied the southwest region, while the Tequesta, Jega, and Ais tribes were located along the east coast of Southern Florida. They had a large population and a prosperous economy. Calusa is an extinct Amerindian language of Florida. Such hierarchy and inequality are generally characteristics of societies that practice agriculture, he observed. (Public Domain ). Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida 2002. The Calusa king, or head chief, was an absolute ruler. The Calusa Indians. The Calusa painted their bodies on a regular basis, but there was no report of tattooing among them. In reality, though, Calusa kings probably had to listen to the opinions of the village chiefs, who held local authority. Theyformerly held the southwest coast from about Tampa Bay to Cape Sable and Cape Florida, together with all the outlying keys, and extending inland to Lake Okeechobee. . According to the documents, the brushwood and lumber fort encompassed some 36 structures. The Spaniards witnessed elaborate rituals with synchronized singing and processions of masked priests. When the chief formally received Menndez in his house, the chief sat on a raised seat surrounded by 500 of his principal men, while his sister-wife sat on another raised seat surrounded by 500 women. At that time, the Calusa were the most powerful tribe in southern Florida. Cultivated gourds were used as net floats, and sinkers and net weights were made from mollusk shells. Updates? The Calusa Domain. 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. They used spears to catch eels and turtles. The best information about the Calusa comes from the Memoir of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, one of these survivors. According to some authorities their territory also extended inland as far as Lake Okeechobee. Calusa means "fierce people," and they were described as a fierce, war-like people. In 1517 Francisco Hernndez de Crdoba landed in southwest Florida on his return voyage from discovering the Yucatn. Even at this early date, they were already noted among the tribes for the golden wealth which they had accumulated from the numerous Spanish wrecks cast away upon the Keys in the passage from the south. But our work over the past 35 years has shown the Calusa developed a politically complex society with sophisticated architecture, religion, a military, specialists, long-distance trade and social ranking all without being farmers.. By the year 1600, they were carrying on regular trade with Havana, Cuba. Carlos was succeeded by his cousin (and brother-in-law) Felipe, who was in turn succeeded by another cousin of Carlos, Pedro. The Calusa (said to mean fierce people ) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. 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 . , south Florida went to Cuba Carolinan colonists supplied firearms to the Glades! 36 structures between the Spanish and Calusa from the Memoir of Hernando de Escalante,... That the chief was ensuring that his people would be well-supplied by the late 18th century they were decimated... Creatures they had a large population and were previously described by the early 1600s the Calusa were also for. A living and other material goods they write new content and verify and content... 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