Tracking the Calusa: A Retrospective. By the early 19th century, Anglo-Americans in the area used the term Calusa for the people. [8], Some authors have argued that the Calusa cultivated maize and Zamia integrifolia (coontie) for food. We could not anticipate the extraordinary preservation of organic materials down below the water table, Marquardt noted. [Online]Available at: http://www.funandsun.com/1tocf/inf/nativepeoples/calusa.html, www.sanibelhistory.org, 2016. The earliest written descriptions of these people come from Spanish explorers, who sought to convert and conquer them. 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. 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. The Calusa resisted physical encroachment and spiritual conversion by the Spanish and their missionaries for almost 200 years. Diseases would ravage their population and force . Calusa Tribe. Archaeologists have excavated many of these mounds to learn more about these . Cultivated gourds were used as net floats, and sinkers and net weights were made from mollusk shells. 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.. Conversion would have destroyed the source of their authority and legitimacy. Artifacts such as shell tools, weapons, and ornaments are on display in many Florida history museums. Historical documents indicate that by the mid-1700s, the dwindling Calusa population had fled to Cuba, or the Florida Keys. 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. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region. Cord was also made from cabbage palm leaves, saw palmetto trunks, Spanish moss, false sisal (Agave decipiens) and the bark of cypress and willow trees. Native Americans enjoyed a wide variety of entertainment in the form of sports, games, music, dance, and festivals. The Calusa tribe probably lived in Florida for several hundred years. The chief also married women from subject towns and allied tribes. They were a fishing and shell-gathering people, and they ate a variety of seafood that they caught in the Gulf of Mexico. 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. It appears that the answer is their watercourts, which were discovered back in the 1890s. Calusa influence may have also extended to the Ais tribe on the central east coast of Florida. The Calusa (said to mean fierce people ) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. About this time, they numbered nearly 50 villages, from one of which the city of Tampa takes its name. They were descendants of Paleo-Indians who inhabited Southwest Florida approximately 12,000 years ago. The plaques and other objects were often painted. The Calusa case also illustrates remarkably sophisticated engagements with, and long-term large-scale management of, coastal and estuarine environments.. Unfortunately, we dont know exactly how long the Calusa tribe lived, because there is very little information about them. Southeastern Archaeology, 33(1), 124. They traded with other Native American tribes in Florida, as well as with people in Mexico and Central America. 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 were a matrilineal society, with power and status passing through the female line. Fort San Anton de Carlos is the first example of the use of tabby in North America. The chief lived in the main village at the mouth of the Miami River. 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. Additionally, it has been suggested that the population of this tribe may have reached 50000 people at one point of time. Shell mounds can still be found today in many parts of southern Florida. [15], The Calusa wore little clothing. Seeing the work of the Calusa in these materials first-hand were really exciting moments for us.. The Calusa kingdom was eventually devastated by European diseases as well as slave raids by enemy tribes. The Calusa Indians lived in Southwest Florida. The Calusa Indians. The Calusa king, or head chief, was an absolute ruler. These Indians controlled most of south Florida. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. However, their numbers began to decline in the late 1700s, and by the 1800s they were no longer a major force in southern Florida. 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. 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 Spaniards witnessed elaborate rituals with synchronized singing and processions of masked priests. A Calusa alligator head carved out of wood, excavated at Key Marco in 1895, on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History. [23], The Pnfilo de Narvez expedition of 1528 and the Hernando de Soto expedition of 1539 both landed in the vicinity of Tampa Bay, north of the Calusa domain. However, they would suffer the same fate as many of the other Native American tribes. In 1569, just three years after the Spanish fort was built, the Calusa attacked a Spanish supply ship, prompting more violence. 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. Shells were discarded into huge heaps. The men of the Calusa are recorded to have been powerfully built, and let their hair grow long. [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. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very long time. 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. 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. Dominican missionaries reached the Calusa domain in 1549 but withdrew because of the hostility of the tribe. Their art was heavily influenced by their environment, and many of their creations featured marine motifs. 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 Calusa were a Native American tribe that lived hundreds of years ago on the island that is now Mound Key Archaeological State Park. They were supported by the labor of the majority of the Calusa. The researchers used ground penetrating radar and LiDAR to locate and map the forts structures, which they then partially excavated. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and had a number of traditions that set them apart from other tribes in the area. Furthermore, new diseases such as smallpox and measles were introduced into the area by European explorers. They were experts in fishing, and they also grew crops and raised animals. The men and boys of the tribe made nets from palm tree webbing to catch mullet, pinfish, pigfish, and catfish. 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. Prior surface surveys had revealed Spanish ceramics, beads and other artifacts, but the location of the fort hadnt been determined. However, it is likely that they were eventually assimilated into other tribes in the area. 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. ed. Little was recorded of jewelry or other ornamentation among the Calusa. They developed a complex culture based on estuarine fisheries rather than agriculture. Towns throughout south Florida sent tribute to the Calusa king. "Chapter 10. (1964). Calusa Indians. ( Public Domain ), Featured image: Calusa people fishing. Rituals were believed to link the Calusa to their spirit world (Art by Merald Clark. Their linguistic affiliation is not certain. At the time of European contact in the 16th and 17th centuries, the historic Calusa were the people of the Caloosahatchee culture. 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. The fact that the Calusa were fishers, not farmers, created tension between them and the Spaniards, who arrived in Florida when the Calusa kingdom was at its zenith, Thompson said. In 1711, the Spanish helped evacuate 270 Indians, including many Calusa, from the Florida Keys to Cuba (where almost 200 soon died). This tribe was the first one that the Spanish explorers wrote home about in 1513. The Calusa were a very spiritual people, and believed in a number of supernatural beings. The Calusa king initially allied himself with Menendez, hoping to gain an advantage over his rivals elsewhere in the Florida peninsula.. We began with a basic set of questions, said Marquardt. Additionally, it has been pointed out that tribute was sent to this chief from other tribes in south Florida. Her story is filled with drama, intrigue, and tragedy, and her influence on the course of English history is undeniable. The first phase of work included the creation of a detailed topographic map of the island using LiDAR, which gave archaeologists information about its structures and geography. The best information about the Calusa comes from the Memoir of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, one of these survivors. By around 5000 BC, people started living in villages near wetlands. It is recorded that in that year, the Calusa chief formed an alliance with the Spanish governor, Menndez de Avils. The last few Calusa probably fled to Cuba or merged with the Seminoles who moved into South Florida in the 1800s. 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. This is still a popular sport today. Their main waterway was the Calooshahatchee River, which means River of the Calusa. Please try again in a few minutes. [20][21], A few vocabulary examples from Granberry's work are listed below:[22]. Milanich, J. T. (2004). 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by. Why We Should Not Defund The Police Facts, Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms Facts, Why Is Evolution Taught In Schools As Fact. Many smaller tribes were constantly watching for these marauding warriors. In a report from 1697, the Spanish noted 16 houses in the Calusa capital of Calos, which had 1,000 residents. American Archaeology cover, featuring Florida Museum illustration by Merald Clark. The men were responsible for work away from the home, like hunting and raiding. 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. Calusa beliefs included a trinity of governing spirits. After Spain ceded Florida to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763, the remaining tribes of South Florida were relocated to Cuba by the Spanish, completing their removal from the region. All his subjects had to obey his commands. Fish stored in the watercourts likely fed the workers who built the massive palace. 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. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. The Calusa were a very prosperous people. The drove back multiple conquistadors and had control of nearby tribes. A Calusa /s/ [s] sound is said to range between a /s/ to a // sound. During the Calusa's reign the Florida coastline extended roughly 60 miles further into the Gulf of Mexico. In an effort to reconnect the community to the waterways, Calusa Waterkeeper, a nonprofit clean water advocacy group, is kicking off the inaugural The Big Calusa, a recreational, educational and cultural family friendly week long festival next week. Well-preserved nets, net floats, and hooks were found at Key Marco, in the territory of the neighboring Muspa tribe. The Calusa painted their bodies on a regular basis, but there was no report of tattooing among them. Marquardt, W. H. (2014). Calusa Tribe. They were fierce fighters and accomplished seamen, paddling their dugout canoes around the Florida coast. This site is believed to have been the capital of the Calusa, as well as its military stronghold and ceremonial center. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. While a few Calusa individuals may have stayed behind and been absorbed into the Seminole, no documentation supports that. 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. Calusa influence extended over most of south Florida in the sixteenth century. The Calusa were also known to sail up and down the west coast salvaging the wealth from shipwrecks. One shell mound site is Mound Key at Estero Bay in Lee County. Some of the "Spanish Indians" (often of mixed Spanish-Indian heritage) who worked at the fishing camps likely were descended from Calusa. 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