An Ancient Indian Mystery Unearthed in Miami: The Miami Circle

In 1998, along the mouth of the Miami River in downtown Miami, a discovery was made that rocked this city when an old apartment building had been torn down to make room for a new very expensive condominium about to be constructed...

Under the ground there were a few round basins discovered in the limestone rock, (which is found beneath the ground all over South Florida)...these basins actually a series of basins, as they were called by the local archaeologists who were called in, were cut neatly and precisely in the bedrock in a circular pattern. when seen from above they are perfect circles...There were post holes and carvings, some of them resembling eyes and other bodily parts, along with the skeletal remains of a five foot shark, which suggested it might have been part of a ceremonial offering... they also found heavy axes made out of stone and other various kinds of tools.

The way the circle was aligned on an east to west pattern was believed to have been used for astronomical purposes which would predict the winter and summer solstice and that it may have been part of a temple belonging to the Tequesta Indians, the oldest known tribe along the eastern seaboard of North America...some archaeologists believe it might have been a house of counsel for the Indians...nobody knows for sure but whatever it might have been, this new Miami Circle was quite an archaeological find for scientists and for all who are interested in the ancient past of mankind, especially in Florida and all of North America.

There was immediately quite a bit of controversy....a "Save the circle" committee was formed to stop all construction on the site regardless of what money had already been spent on what was to be a luxurious waterfront high rise condominium...

Vigils began with the media on hand, the local Indian tribes arrived bringing with them very dramatic candlelight chanting and all sorts of intriguing methods of demonstrations against further damage to this most important discovery.

The owners of the property were apoplectic since millions of dollars were going to be affected...they wanted the building built..local officials tried to appease them both but the future of the prime real estate was at stake and you know money usually rules out.

Eventually a new plan was improvised, they would move the huge limestone slab to another location, but, at the last moment, the workers hired for the job decided not to go ahead with it, they felt it wrong to desecrate this important historic site.

Then the county commissioners stepped in to approve a plan that would control the land and come up with the money to buy it from the developer...they would make the site a part of the nearby existing Biscayne National Park.

Campaigns were established to raise funds to the "save the circle" ...money from various groups and individuals came in for this most important purpose..

The land, now a part of the National Park Service, was to be another interesting place to visit when in Miami. A perfect spot for all to of reflect on the mystery of the Tequesta Indians, a tribe that is no longer with us..This was to be a truly a special place along the Miami River.

A bit more digging went on and more remains were found, bones of at least 12 people were dug up, some said to be 2500 years old...they say from about 500 BC to the year 500 AD...it was believed to have been a burial site as well as an astrological site, when more bodies were discovered, they think about 50 to 100 in just 41 holes that were dug..With much more digging to go on, who knew what they will find?

Then the development company completely backed out when the mayor of Miami said, "I think the historic value of the property is too great to turn it into another condominium site. I want the city to invest the dollars necessary in that park so people really use it"

The Indians were very pleased with this turn of events and so were the archaeologists, one said "This is a very significant site, one of the few where human remains are extensively preserved, scientifically, it's important... As a sacred site, it is particularly important."

I said it then and I say it now, Amen," let them rest in Peace"

Now, 10 years later, they are still resting in peace but, according to some local news reports, though the 38 foot circle is still fenced off, it has been overrun with debris and weeds, not at all accessible to the local tax payers who eventually bought the land for $26.7 million dollars....but, there is hope that in the near future that the site will be opened by the local government and the South Florida Museum...There are 4 proposals that will be brought before the commission of both state and local officials to save the land once again from bulldozers....new target dates have been set for open access by the year 2009 with limited tours starting later this year....the proposals range in many varied ways, from displays that will protectively rebury the circle but cover it with a replicated "ghost image", to one that would showcase the actual carvings and feature a center for learning with experts on hand to give talks and answer questions..

Whatever is to be I certainly hope it happens soon...I would love to be among the first to view this most historic and important find along the old Miami River.

For more information about the Miami Circle and the Tequesta Indians check out www.flheritage.com/archaeology/miamicircle....

Also the First Arrivals exhibit at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida is quite fascinating