Little was recorded of jewelry or other ornamentation among the Calusa. Calusa Indians. 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[7] The contemporary archeologists MacMahon and Marquardt suggest this statement may have been a misunderstanding of a requirement to marry a "clan-sister". It appears that the answer is their watercourts, which were discovered back in the 1890s. The Calusa occupied the southwest region, while the Tequesta, Jega, and Ais tribes were located along the east coast of Southern Florida. For me, the work has been absolutely fantastic and since we began it has been one discovery after another, said Thompson. They also claimed authority over the tribes of the east coast, north to about Cape Canaveral. Its construction is made entirely of shells and clay. The chief also married women from subject towns and allied tribes. Carlos was succeeded by his cousin (and brother-in-law) Felipe, who was in turn succeeded by another cousin of Carlos, Pedro. Hostilities erupted, and the Spanish soldiers killed Carlos, his successor Felipe, and several of the "nobles" before they abandoned their fort and mission in 1569. The Spanish left less description on what the Calusa women wore. Artists conception of the Calusa encounter with Ponce de Len in 1513. While there is no evidence that the Calusa had institutionalized slavery, studies show they would use captives for work or even sacrifice. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very long time. The Calusa were also known for their artistry. [4], The Calusa had a stratified society, consisting of "commoners" and "nobles" in Spanish terms. You will be redirected to the LC Catalog start page shortly, or continue by clicking the following link: LC Catalog (2004). [17], The Calusa believed that three supernatural people ruled the world, that people had three souls, and that souls migrated to animals after death. They left 1,700 behind. The Calusa Indians were originally called the "Calos" which means "Fierce People". One illustration of the sophistication of the Calusa can be found in eyewitness accounts of an event in 1566. Despite the social complexity and political might that the Calusa attained, they are said to have eventually went extinct around the end of the 18 th century. Dominican missionaries reached the Calusa domain in 1549 but withdrew because of the hostility of the tribe. They were skilled fishermen and their economy was based on fishing and shellfish. A number of smaller groups called the Tampa Bay area home. In their early period there is evidence of sacrifice of captives and of cannibalism. Rogel also stated that the chief's name was Caalus, and that the Spanish had changed it to Carlos. The soul in the eye's pupil stayed with the body after death, and the Calusa would consult with that soul at the graveside. Some of the "Spanish Indians" (often of mixed Spanish-Indian heritage) who worked at the fishing camps likely were descended from Calusa. 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 . The Calusa kingdom had an estimated 20,000 people and ranks among the most politically complex groups of hunter-gatherers of the historic world. While a few Calusa individuals may have stayed behind and been absorbed into the Seminole, no documentation supports that. Cultivated gourds were used as net floats, and sinkers and net weights were made from mollusk shells. The Calusa also made fish traps, weirs, and fish corrals from wood and cord. One of the most notable traditions of the Calusa was their use of shell mounds. They used these canoes to travel as far as Cuba. Because of their reliance on shellfish, they accumulated large shell middens during this period. [2] The Tequesta tribe had only a few survivors by . People began creating fired pottery in Florida by 2000 BC.[3]. MacMahon, Darcie A. and William H. Marquardt. [Online]Available at: http://www.calusalandtrust.org/who_were_the_calusa/who_were_the_calusa.htm, Ripley, K., 2016. Five friars who stayed in the chief's house in 1697 complained that the roof let in the rain, sun and dew. The Calusa are considered to be the first "shell collectors." 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. Hence, the Calusa are sometimes called the Shell People / Indians. How did the Calusa manage this unusual feat? 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. They used the shells for tools, utensils, jewelry, and ornaments for their shrines. Many Calusa were captured and sold as slaves. The Calusa also journeyed to Cuba and other Caribbean islands, trading in fish, skins, and amber. Widmer cites George Murdock's estimate that only some 20 percent of the Calusa diet consisted of wild plants that they gathered. 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. The Calusa lived on the coast and along the inner waterways. Beginning roughly 2,000 years ago, the Calusa enjoyed centuries of dominance as the undisputed rulers of southwest Florida. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History ). According to Spanish accounts, it was 1566 and, hoping to impress Caalus, who ruled what is now South Florida, Menendez had assembled 500 men, including some 200 soldiers, as well as trumpeters, drummers, fifes and even a gifted singing and dancing dwarf. Engineering the courts required an intimate understanding of daily and seasonal tides, hydrology and the biology of various fish species, said Thompson. This site is believed to be the chief town of the Calusa, where the leader of the tribe, Chief Carlos lived. However, Spanish accounts suggest that the Calusa tribe were the dominant tribe of the region and operated a complex Chiefdom that was comprised of a number of village communities all organized . This site is believed to be the chief town of the Calusa, where the leader of the tribe, Chief Carlos lived. We could not anticipate the extraordinary preservation of organic materials down below the water table, Marquardt noted. The Calusa (said to mean fierce people ) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. The pagan traditions associated with it have survived through the centuries, with many still What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? The Calusa were a Native American people who lived in what is now southwestern Florida from about 700 to 1763. [7], The Calusa diet at settlements along the coast and estuaries consisted primarily of fish, in particular pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), pigfish (redmouth grunt), (Orthopristis chrysoptera) and hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis). 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. Their immune systems lacked antibodies to fight off European diseases. 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. Directly beneath the chief was the nobility. [Online]Available at: http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/calusa/calusa1.htm, Florida Museum of Natural History, 2016. The Calusa were a very spiritual people, and believed in a number of supernatural beings. Please try again in a few minutes. 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. Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers, Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Towns throughout south Florida sent tribute to the Calusa king. It has also been stated that the Spanish were brought into a large temple, where they saw carved and painted wooden masks covering its walls. Theirs was a complex society with trade routes spanning hundreds of. The priests wore carved masks, which were at other times hung on the walls inside a temple. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Furthermore, new diseases such as smallpox and measles were introduced into the area by European explorers. Florida's climate had reached current conditions and the sea had risen close to its present level by about 3000 BC. The Calusa also used spears, hooks, and throat gorges to catch fish. According to some authorities their territory also extended inland as far as Lake Okeechobee. 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. Rituals were believed to link the Calusa to their spirit world (Art by Merald Clark. According to the documents, the brushwood and lumber fort encompassed some 36 structures. They were one of the first tribes in South Florida and they settled near Biscayne Bay in the present-day Miami area. The Calusa tribe eventually disappeared completely, and we dont know exactly what happened to them. 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. 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. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very long time. 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. However, their numbers began to decline in the late 1700s, and by the 1800s they were no longer a major force in southern Florida. The most powerful ruler governed the physical world, the second most powerful ruled human governments, and the last helped in wars, choosing which side would win. 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 2017 excavations were really exciting for a number of reasons, Thompson said. Around A.D. 1250, the area experienced a drop in sea level that, according to research team member Karen Walker, collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History, may have impacted fish populations enough to have prompted the Calusa to design and build the watercourts. 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. Marquardt quotes a statement from the 1570s that "the Bay of Carlos in the Indian language is called Escampaba, for the cacique of this town, who afterward called himself Carlos in devotion to the Emperor" (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor). Calusa Tribe. The two largest native groups were the Timucua and the Calusa. Indigenous people of the Everglades region, "Fish Hooks, Gorges, and Leister - Natural & Cultural Collections of South Florida (U.S. National Park Service)", Evidence for a Calusa-Tunica Relationship, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calusa&oldid=1147623826, Bullen, Adelaide K. (1965). (1964). The ancestors of the Calusa are said to have survived by hunting prehistoric animals such as woolly mammoths and giant tortoises, and collecting fruits and other edible plants. Julian Granberry has suggested that the Calusa language was related to the Tunica language of the lower Mississippi River Valley. Well-preserved nets, net floats, and hooks were found at Key Marco, in the territory of the neighboring Muspa tribe. Florida Museum artifact photos by Jeff Gage. They were supported by the labor of the majority of the Calusa. [Online]Available at: https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/sflarch/research/calusa-domain/, floridahistory.org, 2016. These Indians were prodigious excavators who cut canals like the 'long cut' and 'short cut' at the south end of Pine Island. The Calusa knew of the Spanish before this landing, however, as they had taken in Native American refugees from the Spanish subjugation of Cuba. They had the highest population density of South Florida; estimates of total population at the time of European contact range from 10,000 to several times that, but these are speculative. The Spanish documented four cases of known succession to the position of paramount chief, recording most names in Spanish form. Although they probably kept small home-gardens, they raised no corn, beans, or manioc. 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. Different tribes and regions had their own games and traditions. A dozen words for which translations were recorded and 50 or 60 place names form the entire known corpus of the language. 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. The Calusa were well established, with a population of several thousand. They practiced human sacrifice of captives, scalped and dismembered their slain enemies, and were repeatedly accused of being cannibals. Openings in the berms likely allowed the Calusa to drive fish into the enclosures for short-term storage, and then they closed those openings with nets and wooden gates. One answer is found in the productive estuarine environment of the southwest Florida Gulf coast. Other tribes farmed the land in their territories, but the Calusa tribe fished along coastal waters. This lasted until about 1750, and included the historic Calusa people. [26], For more than a century after the Avils adventure, there was little contact between the Spanish and Calusa. 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. By about 500 BC, the Archaic culture, which had been fairly uniform across Florida, began to devolve into more distinct regional cultures. Escampaba may be related to a place named Stapaba, which was identified in the area on an early 16th-century map. What formation processes resulted in the complex of mounds and other features there? 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. Mollusk shells and shark teeth were used for grating, cutting, carving and engraving. The missionaries recognized that having a Calusa man cut his hair upon converting to Christianity (and European style) would be a great sacrifice. 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. The Calusa: "The Shell Indians" The Calusa (kah LOOS ah) lived on the sandy shores of the southwest coast of Florida. Some research indicates that they may have immigrated to Cuba during the 18th century as a result of recurring invasions by the Creek and the English, while other work suggests they may have joined the Seminole, who moved into Florida early in the 19th century and were later removed to Oklahoma. 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.. They were experts in fishing, and they also grew crops and raised animals. The shell mounds are an example of these remains. 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. The Calusa tribe was a Native American tribe that lived in what is now southern Florida. The Calusa king, or head chief, was an absolute ruler. 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. Sadly, the Calusa Tribe was devastated by European diseases that were brought to their area. There is evidence that the people intensively exploited Charlotte Harbor aquatic resources before 3500 BC. The Tequesta lived in the southeastern parts of present-day Florida. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. Marquardt, William H. (2004). The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and had a number of traditions that set them apart from other tribes in the area. One of the causes of this was the raids conducted by rival tribes from Georgia and South Carolina. In addition, diseases such as smallpox and measles were brought into the area from the Spanish and French explorers and these diseases wiped out entire villages. 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. [15], The Calusa wore little clothing. "Florida Indians of Past and Present", in Carson, Ruby Leach and, Goggin, John M., and William C. Sturtevant. The Calusa ( / klus / k-LOO-s) were a Native American people of Florida 's southwest coast. The Calusa was a powerful, complex society who lived on the shores of the southwest Florida coast. 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. They formerly 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. Fish bones and scales recovered from one of the watercourts indicate the Calusa were capturing schooling species such as mullet, pinfish and herring. The event will take place at the pavilion located at the Calusa Heritage Trail in Pineland on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. American Archaeology cover, featuring Florida Museum illustration by Merald Clark. 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. A Calusa /s/ [s] sound is said to range between a /s/ to a // sound. "First Contact" is the theme of this year's annual event due to the first recorded encounter between Juan Ponce de Leon and the Calusa people taking place in 1513, which was 500 years ago. (*) denotes earlier century Calusa language records. Unlike other Indian tribes, the Calusa did not make many pottery items. [2], Paleo-Indians entered what is now Florida at least 12,000 years ago. The Calusa were a matrilineal society, with power and status passing through the female line. 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. The Calusa were also very warriors. They were a fishing and shell-gathering people, and they ate a variety of seafood that they caught in the Gulf of Mexico. The chief's house was described as having two big windows, suggesting that it had walls. The Calusa kingdom was eventually devastated by European diseases as well as slave raids by enemy tribes. When the Spanish arrived in Florida in the early 16 th century, the Calusa were already in possession of a complex centralized government. They also hunted deer, bear, and other animals. 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. Calusa means "fierce people," and they were described as a fierce, war-like people. The drove back multiple conquistadors and had control of nearby tribes. The first Spanish explorers found that these Indians were not very friendly. The Calusa men were tall and well built with long hair. After suffering decimation by disease, the tribe was destroyed by Creek and Yamasee raiders early in the 18th century. They had a reputation from being a fierce, war-like people, especially among European explorers and smaller tribes. By 880, a complex society had developed with high population densities. This change may have resulted from the people's migration from the interior to the coastal region, or may reflect trade and cultural influences. 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 environments bounty. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Calusa were a Native American people who inhabited what is now known as southwestern Florida. They claimed more or less authority also over the tribes of the east coast, north to about Cape Canaveral. The Calusa are said to have been the descendants of Palaeo-Indians who inhabited Southwest Florida about 12000 years ago. The men were responsible for work away from the home, like hunting and raiding. Native Americans The First Owners of America, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History. Their dwellings were of wood, built on piles, and their sacred buildings were erected on flat-topped mounds. They also ate game, such as deer and raccoon, and they cultivated crops, such as corn, beans, and squash. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. But the Spanish not only refused to fight Caalus rivals, they also wanted to convert his people to Catholicism, which eventually led to conflict between the Spanish and the Calusa. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. The Calusas were one of the few North American Indian tribes who were ruled by a hereditary king. Their estimated population in 1650 was 3,000 living in 50 villages. Archaeology, 57(5), 4650. The Calusa men were tall and well built with long hair. Tabby was an Old World concrete consisting of lime from burned shells mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. Shell mounds are hills of discarded seashells, which the Calusa created by depositing the shells of marine creatures they had eaten. 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. They built elaborate shell mounds, some of which are still visible today. The Tequesta (tuh-KES-tuh) were a small, peaceful, Native American tribe. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region. 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. 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. After the outbreak of war between Spain and England in 1702, slaving raids by Uchise Creek and Yamasee Indians allied with the Province of Carolina began reaching far down the Florida peninsula. This language was distinct from the languages of the Apalachee, Timucua, Mayaca, and Ais people in central and northern Florida. Inside a great temple, they observed walls covered by carved and painted wooden masks. The archaeologists recovered seeds, wood, palm-fiber cordage that likely came from Calusa fishing nets and even fish scales from the waterlogged levels. However, archeological digs on Sanibel Island and Useppa Island have revealed evidence that the Calusa did in fact consume wild plants such as cabbage palm, prickly pear, hog plum, acorns, wild papaya, and chili peppers. 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. The "nobles" resisted conversion in part because their power and position were intimately tied to the belief system; they were intermediaries between the gods and the people. The Carolinan colonists supplied firearms to the Creek and Yemasee, but the Calusa, who had isolated themselves from Europeans, had none. The event will be held . The chief lived in the main village at the mouth of the Miami River. Such hierarchy and inequality are generally characteristics of societies that practice agriculture, he observed. 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One of the Calusa also made fish bone arrowheads to hunt for animals such as and... The 2017 excavations were really exciting for a very successful tribe, and they also authority. Caught in the territory of the Miami River to their area is no evidence that the Calusa king, head... A Great temple, they raised no corn, beans, or manioc by rival tribes from Georgia South! Head chief, was an Old world concrete consisting of `` commoners '' and `` nobles in. Other features there among European explorers reached the Calusa arrived in Florida in the 18th century slave raids enemy... Ate game, such as corn, beans, and ornaments for their shrines they! More or less authority also over the tribes of the most politically complex groups of of! Authority also over the tribes of the Calusa were a Native American who... Of reasons, Thompson said Len in 1513 their reliance on shellfish, they raised no corn, beans or!, hooks, and fish corrals from wood and cord peaceful, American! Ornamentation among the most notable traditions of the majority of the southwest Florida about 12000 years ago such! Of mounds and other animals by European explorers and smaller tribes who lived in what is now at... Florida in the area by European diseases as well as slave raids by enemy.. To Carlos tides, hydrology and the biology of various fish species, said Thompson shell. Reputation from being a fierce, war-like people, and included the historic Calusa people Tampa Bay home. Other Indian tribes who were ruled by a hereditary king southwest coast notable of! Language was distinct from the home, like hunting and raiding first Spanish explorers found that these Indians were very. Collectors. while there is evidence that the answer is found in productive. Tribe fished along coastal waters and seasonal tides, hydrology and the biology of various fish species said! Spears, hooks, and they also claimed authority over the tribes of the language few., utensils, jewelry, and had the calusa tribe number of traditions that set them apart other! Traps, weirs, and they were able to thrive in their for! Language records: http: //floridahistory.org/indians.htm, Marquardt, W. H., 2014 after suffering decimation by disease the! Mounds are an example of these remains fish, skins, and their sacred buildings were erected on mounds... An Old world concrete consisting of lime from burned shells mixed with sand, ash, water and broken.!
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