Their dwellings were of wood, built on piles, and their sacred buildings were erected on flat-topped mounds. What traditions did the Calusa tribe have? 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. The earliest written descriptions of these people come from Spanish explorers, who sought to convert and conquer them. The level of southwest Florida political complexity is noteworthy because they depended for food mainly on fishing, hunting, and gathering. The Calusa strongly resisted two Spanish mission attemptsone in 1566 and another in 1697and persisted in many . Directly beneath the chief was the nobility. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Tequesta lived in the southeastern parts of present-day Florida. Why We Should Not Defund The Police Facts, Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms Facts, Why Is Evolution Taught In Schools As Fact. Omissions? The Calusa, who had no immunity against such illnesses, were wiped out in large numbers. The Calusa tribe eventually disappeared completely, and we dont know exactly what happened to them. The Calusa tribe was first mentioned by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. They were also a very skilled traders and fishermen, and were able to exploit the natural resources of the region to their advantage. Among most tribes in Florida for which there is documentation, the women wore skirts made of what was later called Spanish moss. The chief is said to have entertained the governor in a building so large that it could hold 2000 people in it. Most of the Calusa people were killed or died from diseases introduced by the Europeans. The first Spanish explorers found that these Indians were not very friendly. The Calusa were also known for their art, which is characterized by its intricate designs. In 1569, just three years after the Spanish fort was built, the Calusa attacked a Spanish supply ship, prompting more violence. 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. 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. They built canals and fish traps to help them catch fish. A Calusa alligator head carved out of wood, excavated at Key Marco in 1895, on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Their immune systems lacked antibodies to fight off European diseases. The name Calusa is derived from a word in their language, kalusa, meaning fierce people. The Calusa were a very powerful tribe, dominating most of southern Florida until the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century. It appears that the answer is their watercourts, which were discovered back in the 1890s. The Calusa Indians were originally called the "Calos" which means "Fierce People". 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. Shells and clay were used by the Calusa to create the foundation of their cities. Rogel also stated that the chief's name was Caalus, and that the Spanish had changed it to Carlos. 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. The plaques and other objects were often painted. The Calusa tribe died out in the late 1700s. Widmer cites George Murdock's estimate that only some 20 percent of the Calusa diet consisted of wild plants that they gathered. The men and boys of the tribe made nets from palm tree webbing to catch mullet, pinfish, pigfish, and catfish. Beginning roughly 2,000 years ago, the Calusa enjoyed centuries of dominance as the undisputed rulers of southwest Florida. 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. 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 Spanish were used to dealing with natives who farmed and who provided the Spanish with some of their food. The process of shaping the boat was achieved by burning the middle and subsequently chopping and removing the charred center, using robust shell tools. [8], Some authors have argued that the Calusa cultivated maize and Zamia integrifolia (coontie) for food. [4], The Calusa had a stratified society, consisting of "commoners" and "nobles" in Spanish terms. "[6] In 1564, according to a Spanish source, the priest was the chief's father, and the military leader was his cousin. The Calusa Indians lived in Southwest Florida. In 1517 Francisco Hernndez de Crdoba landed in southwest Florida on his return voyage from discovering the Yucatn. One of the causes of this was the raids conducted by rival tribes from Georgia and South Carolina. Uniquely, it was powered by fishing, not farming. The Calusa was a powerful, complex society who lived on the shores of the southwest Florida coast. The Calusa tribe is known for their skill in fishing and their elaborate shell mounds. 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. One illustration of the sophistication of the Calusa can be found in eyewitness accounts of an event in 1566. 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.. During the Calusa's reign the Florida coastline extended roughly 60 miles further into the Gulf of Mexico. The Calusa were descended from people who had lived in the area for at least 1,000 years prior to European contact, and possibly for much longer than that. The Calusa were a Native American people who inhabited what is now known as southwestern Florida. Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers, Florida Center for Instructional Technology. No records of the language remain other than a few place names in Florida, so it is unknown which language family Calusa might have belonged to. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region. The Calusa were a very spiritual people, and believed in a number of supernatural beings. Different tribes and regions had their own games and traditions. 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. [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). 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. More were evacuated to Cuba, where many of them died. The chief lived in the main village at the mouth of the Miami River. The story of the Calusa during the Spanish occupation of La Florida is a complicated one, said Thompson. 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. When Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain in 1763, the last remnants of the tribes of South Florida went to Cuba. Typical Women's Work. It was not conserved and is in poor shape, but it is displayed at the nature center in Marathon. 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. They had a very rich culture, and they were known for their elaborate ceremonies and artwork. The Calusa lived on the coast and along the inner waterways. 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. After A.D. 1000, the Calusa began to grow in size and complexity, wielding their military might, trading widely and collecting tribute along those trade routes that extended for hundreds of miles. Calusa influence may have also extended to the Ais tribe on the central east coast of Florida. (Art by Merald Clark. Calusa territory reached from Charlotte Harbor to Cape Sable, all of present-day Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties, and may have included the Florida Keys at times. Slaves occupy the lowest level in Calusa society. The Caloosahatchee Region". The Calusa resisted physical encroachment and spiritual conversion by the Spanish and their missionaries for almost 200 years. 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. Little was recorded of jewelry or other ornamentation among the Calusa. 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. People commonly occupied both fresh and saltwater wetlands. During the 16th century they defended their shores from a succession of Spanish explorers. [17], The Calusa believed that three supernatural people ruled the world, that people had three souls, and that souls migrated to animals after death. The last few Calusa probably fled to Cuba or merged with the Seminoles who moved into South Florida in the 1800s. As his father, the preceding king, was also known as Carlos, he is sometimes called Carlos II.Carlos ruled over one of the most powerful and prosperous chiefdoms in the region at the time, controlling the coastal areas of southwest . [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. The Spanish departed and returned to Puerto Rico. 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. There is an eyewitness account from 1566 of a "king's house" on Mound Key that was large enough for "2,000 people to stand inside. Archaeologists have excavated many of these mounds to learn more about these extinct people. Updates? The Spanish founded a mission on Biscayne Bay in 1743 to serve survivors from several tribes, including the Calusa, who had gathered there and in the Florida Keys. They were the largest and most powerful tribe in Florida at the time of first contact with Europeans. Calusa ceremonies included processions of priests and singing women. 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 soul in the eye's pupil stayed with the body after death, and the Calusa would consult with that soul at the graveside. 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. Other tribes farmed the land in their territories, but the Calusa tribe fished along coastal waters. Escampaba may be related to a place named Stapaba, which was identified in the area on an early 16th-century map. It is said that they even held dominance over tribes on the east coast of Florida, despite them being on the southwest side of the state. Marquardt, William H. (2004). The Calusa were a Muskogean people who spoke a dialect of the Muskogean language. 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. They made tools and weapons of seashells and fish bones. [16], Ceremonial or otherwise artistic masks have been discovered and were previously described by the Spanish who first encountered the Calusa. There is evidence that the people intensively exploited Charlotte Harbor aquatic resources before 3500 BC. (*) denotes earlier century Calusa language records. Archaeologists have excavated many of these mounds to learn more about these . Their linguistic affiliation is not certain. 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. 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. Image by Pat Payne for American Archaeology. Calusa influence extended over most of south Florida in the sixteenth century. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Although the Calusa came to an end, some remains of their achievements can still be seen today. The Calusa: "The Shell Indians" The Calusa (kah LOOS ah) lived on the sandy shores of the southwest coast of Florida. With the tribe's diappearance, the canals fell into disrepair. . The people who constructed Fort San Antn de Carlos had to adapt to Mound Keys unique conditions, researchers said. Previous indigenous cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years. 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. Field school students brush sand from a tabby wall that might be the outer wall of Fort San Antn de Carlos. The fort is the only Spanish structure built atop a shell mound in Florida. They built their homes and temples on mounds of earth, which they used to defend themselves against attack. For me, the work has been absolutely fantastic and since we began it has been one discovery after another, said Thompson. The Calusa were a very advanced tribe. The widespread illness and disease caused the tribe to disassemble by the early 18th century. After each meal, these shells were put to good use as building material and tools. The Franciscans established a mission there in the late 17th century, but the Calusa evicted them after a few months time. However, their culture and influence has been felt long after their disappearance, and the name Calusa is still used to refer to the Native American people who live in the region today. These deposits were carefully water-screened using a series of nested screens in order to capture even the finest organic materials. Florida's Public Archaeological Network archaeologist Rachael Kangas surveyed the damage Irma caused to Otter Mound Preserve 2 acres of land that was formed by the now-extinct Calusa tribe . Calusa beliefs included a trinity of governing spirits. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. The Calusa used wooden dugout canoes to aid them in fishing and for transport. Senquene succeeded his brother (name unknown), and was in turn succeeded by his son Carlos. The explorers soon became the targets of the Calusa attacks. 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. The immensity of the kings house, as well as the huge shell mounds and the canals required large amounts of labor and mechanisms to mobilize and to organize that labor that he thinks are indicative of a lower class that worked at the behest of the Calusas elites. The Calusa tribe was a Native American tribe that lived in what is now southern Florida. The chief's house was described as having two big windows, suggesting that it had walls. Menndez left a garrison of soldiers and a Jesuit mission, San Antn de Carlos, at the Calusa capital. The Calusas were one of the few North American Indian tribes who were ruled by a hereditary king. Artifacts related to fishing changed slowly over this period, with no obvious breaks in tradition that might indicate a replacement of the population. They were skilled fishermen and their economy was based on fishing and shellfish. However, no evidence of plant food was found at the Wightman site. An important tribe of Florida, formerly holding 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. At the time of European contact in the 16th and 17th centuries, the historic Calusa were the people of the Caloosahatchee culture. 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. This article is good but it does not provide any data related to the status of the Calusa people at the first arrival of Spaniards in 1513 leaded by Juan Ponce de Leon, its "discoverer". The Calusa (said to mean fierce people) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. [Online]Available at: http://www.calusalandtrust.org/who_were_the_calusa/who_were_the_calusa.htm, Ripley, K., 2016. They controlled a large area that stretched from the Tampa Bay area to the Keys. [2] The Tequesta tribe had only a few survivors by . [15], The Calusa wore little clothing. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. The priests wore carved masks, which were at other times hung on the walls inside a temple. "For a long time, societies that relied on fishing, hunting and gathering were assumed to be less advanced," said Marquardt. This page was last edited on 1 April 2023, at 04:02. 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. At Mound Key, the Spaniards used primitive tabby as a mortar to stabilize the posts in the walls of their wooden structures. ( Public Domain ). 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. Archaeology, 57(5), 4650. The missionaries recognized that having a Calusa man cut his hair upon converting to Christianity (and European style) would be a great sacrifice. Last remnants of the Calusa ( said to have entertained the governor in a building so large it. The Calusas were one of the Everglades region of earth, which was identified the. Who spoke a dialect of the Calusa evicted them after a few survivors by men and of..., South Florida in the 16th century their cities Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - we back. Two Spanish mission attemptsone in 1566 and another in 1697and persisted in.! A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers, Florida Center for Technology! 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