The Evolution of Calusa: A Nonagricultural Chiefdom of the Southwest Florida Coast

4. The Prehistory of Southwest Florida

4 The Prehistory of Southwest Florida The specific phase and period names and artifact markers introduced here will be integrated in the subsequent chapters with the geology, ecology, demography, and subsistence and settlement patterns, and so no mention of these characteristics will be presented in this chapter. The taxonomy will follow typical usage developed for the eastern United States for the preceramic time periods (J. B. Griffin 1967) and that used by Milanich and Fairbanks (1980) for later periods. For the early portions of the chronology, the concept of horizon will be used, since its recognition of a particular style or complex of materials which are restricted in time yet found over a wide geographic area (Willey and Phillips 1958) adequately characterizes the spatial, chronological, and contextual aspects of the material culture without assuming any similarities in adaptations. Where the spatial distributions of archaeological material of a given time period are more limited , as is the case with the later ceramic complexes, period or phase designations will be used. It should be emphasized again that if phase names are used, they do not refer to adaptational aspects but instead only to the temporal, spatial, and material aspects of a given complex. In other words, phases will be redefined for the purpose of this chapter to equate with periods. Tables 2, 3, and 4 show the chronological position of archaeological periods and horizons. Included in the tables are the associated artifact types identifying the period and the general spatial distribution of the periods. The tables largely follow one prepared by Milanich and Fairbanks (1980, table 1), with some modifications and elaborations, although these authors presented no specific chronology for southwest Florida. Table 2 Cultural Chronology for South Florida During the Glades Tradition CULTURE AREAS Dates Circum-Glades Glades IIIc-European goods + 1118 below Caloosahatchee Caloosahatchee V European goods Belle Glade A.D. 1513 --------------------------------------------------Glades lIIB-Glades Tooled, Safety Harbor Caloosahatchee IV Safety Harbor, Pinellas, Glades Tooled A.D. 1400 --------------------------------------------------Glades IlIA-Surfside Incised, St. Johns Check-Stamped Caloosahatchee III Englewood ceramics Period IV Belle Glade Plain predominates A.D. 1200 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Glades IIC-Plantation Pinched + Glades Plain A.D. 1000 -----------------------Glades lIA-Matecumbe Incised, Key Largo Incised A.D. 900 -----------------------Glades lIA-Incised wares of Gordon Pass, Key Largo,Sanibel,Opa Locka, Miami Incised Caloosahatchee II Increase in Belle Glade Plain through time Period III Increase in Belle Glade Plain A.D. 700 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table 2 (continued) Cultural Chronology for South Florida During the Glades Tradition CULTURE AREAS Dates Circum-Glades Caloosahatchee Belle Glade Glades I (Late)-Ft. Drum Incised and Period III Increase Punctated, Cane Patch in Belle Glade Plain A.D. 500 ----------------------- -------------------Period II A.D. 200 -------------------Glades I (Early) Caloosahatchee I Period I Glades Plain Sand Tempered Plain Sand Tempered Plain 500 B.C. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 58 The Prehistory of Southwest Florida Table 3 Cultural Chronology for South Florida During the Pre-Glades Period Date Period Diagnostic Ceramics 500 B.C.--------------------------------------------------Transitional Norwood Plain 2950 B.P.--------------------------------------------------Pre -Glades III Orange Plain and Incised, Perico Incised, Steatite 3500 B.P.--------------------------------------------------Pre -Glades II Orange Plain, Perico Plain, St. Johns Plain 4000 B.P.--------------------------------------------------Pre -Glades I Fiber-tempered plain, (Late) Orange Plain 5000 B.P.--------------------------------------------------Pre -Glades I Non-ceramic Mount Taylor (Early) Culture-cemetery, pond burials, atlatl, socketed bone points, Archaic broad-stemmed points, Newman Lake CSPP, Levy, Putnam, Marion 7000 B.P.--------------------------------------------------The Paleoindian Period (13,500 to 9900 B.P.) THE CLOVIS HORIZON (13,500 TO 10,500 B.P.) Initial occupation of south Florida probably dates to the Early Paleoindian period at approximately 13,000 B.P. In northern and central Florida, fluted and lanceolate stone projectile points typical of this time period are commonly found eroding from river beds (Waller 1970; Waller and Dunbar 1977; Milanich and Fairbanks 1980). These projectile points include Clovis, Suwannee, and Simpson types (Bullen 1975a;Milanich and Fairbanks 1980). Other associated artifacts, as evidenced by contextual association at the terrestrial Paleoindian site at Silver Springs (Neill 1958;Hemmings 1975), include thumbnail scrapers, blade knives, and gravers. Waller (1971)suggests that a distinctive, unifacially flaked, hafted knife known as the Waller knife is included in this period. Early Paleoindian components (sites with evidence of occupation dating to a certain period) in south Florida are uncommon, but the only known site is well Table 4 Cultural Chronology During the Paleoindian and Archaic Periods Date Southeastern United States North Florida South Florida 7000...