Everything about The Caloosahatchee Culture totally explained
The
Caloosahatchee culture is an
archaeological culture on the southwest
Gulf coast of
Florida that lasted from about 500 to 1750 CE. Its territory consisted of the coast from
Estero Bay to
Charlotte Harbor and inland about halfway to
Lake Okeechobee, approximately covering what are now
Charlotte and
Lee counties. At the time of first
European contact, the Caloosahatchee culture region formed the core of the
Calusa domain.
Some
Archaic artifacts have been found in the Caloosahatchee culture region, including one site classified as early Archaic. There is evidence that Charlotte Harbor aquatic resources were being intensively exploited before 3500
BC. Undecorated
pottery belonging to the early
Glades culture appeared in the region around 500 BC. Pottery distinct from the Glades tradition developed in the Caloosahatchee region around 500 AD, and a complex society with high population densities developed by 800 AD. Later periods in the Caloosahatchee culture are defined by the appearance of pottery from other traditions in the archaeological record.
The coast in the Caloosahatchee culture region is a very rich
estruarine environment. An extensive network of
bays and
sounds are protected behind
barrier islands. The
Caloosahatchee,
Myakka and
Peace rivers flow into the estuary. There are extensive areas of
mangrove and
seagrass in the estuary, resulting in high biological production.
The people of the Caloosahatchee culture built mounds. Some of the mounds in Caloosahatchee settlements were undisturbed shell
middens, but other were constructed by moving materials from middens. Sites ranged from simple small middens to complex sites with
platform mounds,
plazas, "water courts,"
causeways, and
canals.
Mound Key, in the middle of Estero Bay, covers 70 to 80 acres, and includes mounds up to 31 feet tall. A canal penetrates more than halfway into Mound Key, passing between two mounds and ending in a roughly rectangular pool.
The Caloosahatchee people derived 80% to 90% of their animal food from
fish.
Shellfish, including
crabs were also important. Minor components of their diet included
white-tailed deer, other
mammals,
ducks and other water fowl,
alligator,
turtles,
manatees and
sea urchins. Plants collected as food included various wild roots,
mastic fruit,
prickly pear cactus fruit,
palm fruits,
sea grapes,
hogplum, and
cocoplum.
Tools and ornaments made of wood, bone, stone and shell have been found. Perforated stones and plummets (oblong stones with a grove incised around one end) of
limestone are though to have been used as fishing net weights. Dippers, cups, spoons, beads, cutting-edge tools and hammers were made from shells.
Awls, beads, pendants, pins, gorges,
barbs, and points were made from bone. Ceremonial tablets were incised on non-native stone (presumably imported from other areas).
Although outside the Caloosahatchee region proper, the artifacts found at
Key Marco are closely related. These include many wood objects and
cordage. The cordage found at Key Marco, probably of palm fiber, was primarily used in fishing nets. Wood artifacts found at Key Marco included masks, painted carvings of animals, incised and painted tablets and toy/model canoes.
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