Aqui Esta Burial Mound facts for kids
Aqui Esta Burial Mound (8CH68), also known as the Alligator Creek or Punta Gorda Mound, is an ancient sand burial mound located in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. It is a very important archaeological site.
History of the Mound
This ancient burial site was used by the Calusa people. The Calusa were a powerful Native American group who lived in Southwest Florida.
Early Discoveries
In the early 1900s, some burials were found at this mound. In 1975, the mound was about 24.4 metres (80 ft) wide, 42.7 metres (140 ft) long, and 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) high. It was originally shaped like a circle.
Many archaeologists have studied the mound. Sadly, some people also dug there without permission, looking for artifacts. About 100 burials have been discovered. Most of these were "secondary burials." This means the bones were moved to the mound after the person had been buried somewhere else first. Sometimes, only skulls and long bones were found.
Important Finds
The Aqui Esta mound was likely used for a long time. Archaeologists also found a mass burial of 35 to 40 people.
In 1975, archaeologist James Miller found many important items. These included pottery and other artifacts. These finds made Aqui Esta one of the most significant sites in Florida. About 45 rare shell cups were found. Also, special decorated pottery from places like Fort Walton and St. John was discovered. These places are about 200 miles (320 km) to the north. This shows that the people at Aqui Esta traded with groups far away.
Recent Research
In 2005, a ceramics expert from the Florida Museum of Natural History made a new discovery. They found examples of Safety Harbor pottery. This pottery contained mica, a shiny mineral. Mica is usually found in the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia.
This discovery helped experts connect the site to the Safety Harbor culture. This culture existed between 1000 and 1200 AD.
More recent ideas suggest the mound might be even older, dating back to 200 BC. Some researchers believe Aqui Esta was a special earthwork site. It might have been used by members of different ancient cultures, like the Hopewell tradition and Mississippian culture. These were large Native American cultures that lived in other parts of North America. This suggests the mound was a shared and important place for many groups.
