Ancient Civilizations of Florida
Native Americans constructed impressive structures(referred to as Indian Mounds) throughout the state of Florida for over 5,000 years. This Amerindian
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Ancient Civilizations of Florida
Horr’s Island Mounds (3000 BC)
The Horr’s Island Mounds site located in southwest Florida near present-day Fort Myers represents the beginning of a new way of life for Florida’s Native Americans. Established between 3000 – 2800 B.C., not only is this one of the first permanent villages to be occupied year round but it also is the site of the oldest burial mound in the state of Florida (and perhaps North America).
Read moreTomoka Mounds (2510 BC)
Tomoka Mounds is a large complex of burial mounds and shell middens that comprise one of the earliest Native American settlements on the Central East Coast of Florida. This mound construction dates back to the Mount Taylor period, around 5500 years ago. Among the more interesting things found at the site are artifacts imported from quite some distance, including a cache of six bannerstones made of materials that are native to north Georgia.
Read moreGuana River & Joseph Reed Shell Rings (2050 BC)
The Guana River, Joseph Reed, and St. Augustine Shell Ring structures found in Florida represent the earliest part of the
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Big Mound Key & John Quiet Mounds (850 BC)
Located on the Cape Haze peninsula within Charlotte Harbor in southwest Florida are two very similar mound sites: Big Mound
Read moreFort Center Mounds (850 BC)
Around 850 BC new people arrive in Florida possibly from Mexico or Central America. We know this because of something
Read moreOrtona Mounds (250 AD)
Twenty miles southwest of Fort Center in the Lake Okeechobee basin is another equally impressive Native American site: Ortona Mounds.
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Crystal River Mounds (150 BC)
The Crystal River site is located on the Central Gulf Coast of Florida near the Three Sisters Springs. These springs
Read moreLetchworth Mounds (450 AD)
The Letchworth Mounds by nearby Monticella in Florida are, like the Crystal River Mounds, considered a complex because there are
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Lake Jackson Mounds (1000 AD)
Lake Jackson Mounds State Archaeological Site, one of the Florida’s most important archaeological sites, is a 41-acre excavation. It is thought to
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Fort Walton Mound (850 AD)
From the Mississippian Period, this mound is the largest on salt water and possibly the largest prehistoric earthwork on the Gulf
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Shields & Mount Royal Mounds (1200 AD)
The Mississippian Period that started with the building of Lake Jackson Mounds continued with the Shields and Mount Royal Mounds. During
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