Mark Pardo Shellworks Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mark Pardo Shellworks Site
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lee County, Florida |
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| Nearest city | Bokeelia |
| MPS | Archeological Resources of the Caloosahatchee Region MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000533 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1996 |
The Mark Pardo Shellworks Site is a special place in Florida where scientists study ancient times. It's located on Cayo Costa Island, near the town of Bokeelia. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S. on May 21, 1996. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.
Contents
What is a Shellworks Site?
This site has something called "shell works." Imagine long lines of shells that were left along the shore a very long time ago. Inland from these shell lines, there are also "middens." A midden is like an ancient trash pile, but it's full of shells and dark soil. These middens show us what people ate and used many years ago.
Some parts of the site might even be underwater now. This is because the sea level was lower in the past. These underwater areas are in a black mangrove forest nearby.
What Kinds of Shells Are There?
The shell works are mostly made of shells from lightning whelks. You can also find some horse conchs. In the middens, you'll see shells from oysters, clams, conchs, and lightning whelks. These shells tell us a lot about the sea life that was common back then.
Who Lived at This Site?
The shell works and middens were created by the Caloosahatchee people. They lived in this area between about 500 and 1500 years ago. Studying these shell piles helps us learn about their daily lives and how they used the natural resources around them.
Protecting the Site
In 1992, when the site was first studied for the National Register of Historic Places, it was described as one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the region. However, since then, wild pigs have caused some damage to the site. This shows why it's so important to protect historical places like the Mark Pardo Shellworks Site.
