AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The Calusa (/klus/ k-LOO-s) were a Native American people of Florida's southwest coast. The Calusa were a very successful tribe, and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very long time. [7], The Calusa diet at settlements along the coast and estuaries consisted primarily of fish, in particular pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), pigfish (redmouth grunt), (Orthopristis chrysoptera) and hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis). The Calusa remained committed to their belief system despite Spanish attempts to convert them to Catholicism. Unfortunately, we dont know exactly how long the Calusa tribe lived, because there is very little information about them. The Calusa king, or head chief, was an absolute ruler. A team has uncovered the foundations of a large dwelling and this is Several Native American tribes have passed down legends of a race of white giants who were wiped out. We do not fully understand the complexities of what happened to them. According to the documents, the brushwood and lumber fort encompassed some 36 structures. Calusa Tribe. They defended their land against other smaller tribes and European explorers that were traveling by water. Calusa influence extended over most of south Florida in the sixteenth century. The Calusa gathered a variety of wild berries, fruits, nuts, roots and other plant parts. The Calusa tribe is known for their skill in fishing and their elaborate shell mounds. (Public Domain ). 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[8], The Calusa caught most of their fish with nets. At some point of time in their history, this tribe discovered that there was a wealth of fish in the waters, and began to exploit this resource. Since the history books claim that the Calusa occupied that area for over 1,500 years, we hoped to . Calusa means "fierce people," and they were described as a fierce, war-like people. Her story is filled with drama, intrigue, and tragedy, and her influence on the course of English history is undeniable. One of the causes of this was the raids conducted by rival tribes from Georgia and South Carolina. Salvaged goods and survivors from wrecked Spanish ships reached the Calusa during the 1540s and 1550s. Despite the social complexity and political might that the Calusa attained, they are said to have eventually went extinct around the end of the 18 th century. By the late 1700s, enemy tribe attacks reduced the strength of the proud Calusa tribe. Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers, Florida Center for Instructional Technology. The 8th Annual Calusa Heritage Day, which will take place this weekend, will offer an assortment of activities for everyone to enjoy while learning about the Calusa Indians. The story of the Calusa during the Spanish occupation of La Florida is a complicated one, said Thompson. Many Calusa are said to have been captured and sold as slaves. Seeing the work of the Calusa in these materials first-hand were really exciting moments for us.. Hence, the Calusa are sometimes called the Shell People / Indians. Theirs was a complex society with trade routes spanning hundreds of. They developed a complex culture based on estuarine fisheries rather than agriculture. [2], Juan Rogel, a Jesuit missionary to the Calusa in the late 1560s, noted the chief's name as Carlos, but wrote that the name of the kingdom was Escampaba, with an alternate spelling of Escampaha. In R. D. Fogelson (Ed.). The Calusa people's diet consisted mainly of fish and shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico and its many waterways. However, their culture and influence has been felt long after their disappearance, and the name Calusa is still used to refer to the Native American people who live in the region today. Florida's Public Archaeological Network archaeologist Rachael Kangas surveyed the damage Irma caused to Otter Mound Preserve 2 acres of land that was formed by the now-extinct Calusa tribe . They made a type of flatbread called tortillas, which they ate with their meals. Tabby, also called tabbi or tapia, is made by burning shells to create lime, which is then mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. The men were responsible for work away from the home, like hunting and raiding. During Menndez de Avils's visit in 1566, the chief's wife was described as wearing pearls, precious stones and gold beads around her neck. He struck an uneasy peace with their leader Caluus, or Carlos. We know from our study of both historical and archaeological data that the Calusa and their neighbors raised no such staple crops. The Calusa are said to have been a socially complex and politically powerful tribe, and most of southern Florida was controlled by them. Although each tribe and region was different, the division of labor between men and women was generally similar across most of the Native American tribes. Calusa is an extinct Amerindian language of Florida. The Calusa were a Native American people who lived in what is now southwestern Florida from about 700 to 1763. Explorers reported that the Calusa attacked their ships that were anchored close to shore. The capital of the Calusa, and where the rulers administered from, was Mound Key, near present day Estero, Florida. 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The Calusa men were tall and well built with long hair. Cultivated gourds were used as net floats, and sinkers and net weights were made from mollusk shells. Indeed, given the results of recent research, they are now considered one of the most politically complex groups of non-agriculturalists in the ancient world. South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, South Florida Archaeology & Ethnography Collection. The Calusa kingdom had an estimated 20,000 people and ranks among the most politically complex groups of hunter-gatherers of the historic world. Unlike other Indian tribes, the Calusa did not make many pottery items. [19], Little is known of the language of the Calusa. With the tribe's diappearance, the canals fell into disrepair. This was made with clay containing spicules from freshwater sponges (Spongilla), and it first appeared inland in sites around Lake Okeechobee. The Caloosahatchee Region". In addition, elaborate rituals with synchronized singing and processions of masked priests were also carried out on that occasion. Many smaller tribes were constantly watching for these marauding warriors. The chief's house was described as having two big windows, suggesting that it had walls. They used the shells for tools, utensils, jewelry, and ornaments for their shrines. Apart from that, shells are said to have been used by the Calusa to make all sorts of things, including tools, jewelry, utensils, and even spearheads for fishing and hunting. In 1521, Ponce de Len returned to southwest Florida to plant a colony, but the Calusa drove the Spanish out, mortally wounding Ponce de Len. One of the most notable traditions of the Calusa was their use of shell mounds. But the Spanish not only refused to fight Caalus rivals, they also wanted to convert his people to Catholicism, which eventually led to conflict between the Spanish and the Calusa. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Enemy Indian tribes from Georgia and South Carolina began raiding the Calusa territory. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History ). At first, there must have been an uneasy tolerance of one another, as the Spanish built their fort, Marquardt explained. The Caloosahatchee culture inhabited the Florida west coast from Estero Bay to Charlotte Harbor and inland about halfway to Lake Okeechobee, approximately covering what are now Charlotte and Lee counties. The men and boys of the tribe made nets from palm tree webbing to catch mullet, pinfish, pigfish, and catfish. This use of marriages to secure alliances was demonstrated when Carlos offered his sister Antonia in marriage to the Spanish explorer Pedro Menndez de Avils in 1566. The Calusa used wooden dugout canoes to aid them in fishing and for transport. The Calusa believed that the three souls were the pupil of a person's eye, his shadow, and his reflection. This article first appeared in the magazines fall 2020 issue. But our work over the past 35 years has shown the Calusa developed a politically complex society with sophisticated architecture, religion, a military, specialists, long-distance trade and social ranking all without being farmers.. The National Geographic has reported that archaeologists have discovered an ancient Native American kings house in Florida. Said by a Spaniard, Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, who was a captive among them for many years, to mean "fierce people," but it is perhaps more probable that, since it often appears in the form Carlos, it was, as others assert, adopted by the Calusa chief from the name of the Emperor Charles V, about whose greatness he had learned from Spanish prisoners. Calusa means `` fierce people, '' and they were able to thrive in their environment for a very time! 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