Caloosahatchee culture facts for kids
The Caloosahatchee culture was an ancient group of people who lived on the Gulf coast of Southwest Florida. They existed from about 500 to 1750 AD. Their land stretched from Estero Bay to Charlotte Harbor. It also went inland towards Lake Okeechobee. This area today includes Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. When Europeans first arrived, this region was the main home of the Calusa people.
People lived in this area long before the Caloosahatchee culture began. Some very old tools from the Archaic period have been found. People were already using the rich water resources of Charlotte Harbor by 3500 BC. Around 500 BC, simple pottery from the early Glades culture appeared. Then, around 500 AD, the Caloosahatchee people started making their own unique pottery. By 800 AD, they had developed a complex society with many people living close together.
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Their Home: A Rich Coastal Environment
The Caloosahatchee people lived in a very special place. It was a rich estuary environment along the coast. An estuary is where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. Many bays and sounds were protected by barrier islands. The Caloosahatchee, Myakka, and Peace rivers all flowed into this estuary. This area had lots of mangrove trees and seagrass. This meant there was plenty of food for many different animals.
Amazing Structures: Mounds and Waterways
The Caloosahatchee people were skilled builders. They created many large mounds. Some mounds were simply piles of shellfish shells, called middens. Others were carefully built from shells and earth. Hundreds of their sites have been found. These range from small shell piles to huge, complex places. These larger sites had earthwork platform mounds, open areas called plazas, and even "water courts." They also built causeways and canals.
Mound Key: A Major Center
One of their most impressive sites is Mound Key. It is located in the middle of Estero Bay. This site covers about 70 to 80 acres (28 to 32 hectares). It includes mounds that are up to 31 feet (9.4 meters) tall! A long canal cuts more than halfway into Mound Key. It passes between two large mounds and ends in a rectangular pool.
What They Ate
The Caloosahatchee people were expert fishers. About 80% to 90% of their animal food came from fish. Shellfish, like crabs, were also very important. They also ate smaller amounts of other animals. These included white-tailed deer, other mammals, waterfowl like ducks, American alligators, turtles, West Indian manatees, and sea urchins. They also gathered many wild plants for food. These included various roots, mastic fruit, prickly pear cactus fruit, palm fruits, sea grapes, hogplum, and cocoplum.
Tools and Ornaments
The Caloosahatchee people made many useful items. They used wood, bone, stone, and shells.
Fishing Tools
- They used perforated stones and plummets (oblong stones with a groove). These were likely used as weights for their fishing nets.
Shell Tools
- They made dippers, cups, spoons, beads, cutting tools, and hammers from shells.
Bone Tools
Stone Items
- They also made ceremonial tablets. These were carved from stone that was not found locally. This suggests they traded with other groups.
Key Marco Connection
Although Key Marco is outside the main Caloosahatchee region, the things found there are very similar. Many wooden objects and cordage (ropes or cords) were discovered. The cordage at Key Marco was probably made from palm fibers. It was mainly used for fishing nets. Wooden items from Key Marco included masks, painted animal carvings, carved and painted tablets, and even toy or model canoes.
