Portavant Mound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Portavant Mound Site
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Florida
|
|
| Location | Manatee County, Florida Address restricted |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Palmetto |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001475 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1994 |
The Portavant Mound is an ancient site on Snead Island in Florida. It's a special place where people long ago built large earth mounds. You can find it inside the Emerson Point Preserve, near Palmetto. This important site was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 23, 1994.
Contents
What is the Portavant Mound?
The Portavant Mound is also known by other names, like the Portavant Mound Site or Snead Island Temple Mound. It is an archaeological site. This means it's a place where scientists study the past by digging up old objects and structures.
Built by Ancient People
The Portavant Mound is one of many "temple mounds" built by the Safety Harbor culture. This was a group of Native American people who lived in the Tampa Bay area from about 900 to 1725 AD. These mounds were often used for important ceremonies or as bases for special buildings. There are fifteen or more such mounds found around the Tampa Bay area.
How Big is the Mound?
The Portavant Mound is quite large! It stands about four meters (or 13 feet) high. At its base, it measures 45 meters (about 148 feet) by 75 meters (about 246 feet). The top of the mound is flat and measures 24 meters (about 79 feet) by 46 meters (about 151 feet).
Special Features
Unlike some other "temple mounds" in the Tampa Bay area, the Portavant Mound does not have a ramp leading to its top. It also has a lower platform next to the main mound. This platform is about one meter (or 3 feet) high and measures about 30 meters (98 feet) by 30 meters.
What is it Made Of?
The Portavant Mound was built from soil mixed with debris from middens. A midden is basically an ancient trash heap. It contains things like shells, broken pottery, and animal bones left behind by people who lived there long ago. Several other smaller mounds, also made from soil mixed with midden debris, are located near the main "temple mound."
Protecting the Portavant Mound
The Portavant Mound site is very old and important, so it needs protection. A special project has been set up to keep the mounds safe.
Why Protection is Needed
The mounds face several threats:
- River erosion: The nearby river can wear away the mound over time.
- Looting: Some people try to dig up artifacts illegally, which damages the site.
- Foot traffic: Too many people walking on the mounds can cause them to wear down.
- Exotic vegetation: Plants that don't naturally belong there can grow on the mounds and cause damage.
The stabilization project helps protect these ancient structures for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
