|
|
Woodland Mound Builders of Florida |
|
|
As great as the accomplishments were during the Archaic period, they were only the beginning. Florida's Native American architects would construct ever larger mounds and monuments during the Woodland period. As larger groups of people settled in one location for longer periods of time, these aboriginal architects had access to larger labor forces than ever before thus they could begin envisioning even greater projects. Follow the links below to learn about some of their accomplishments:
|
|
 Big Mound Key & John Quiet Mound: Placida, Florida 850 BC
Semicircular ridges of shell, platform mounds and canals are the most prominent features of these two sites. The similarity in architecture to the Poverty Point site in Louisiana along with artifacts prove they were part of an extensive Gulf Coast trade network between Florida and Louisiana.
|
|
Fort Center Mounds: Lakeport, Florida 850 BC
Large circular moats, linear earthworks, and mounds belong to one of the largest precolumbian sites in Florida. Unique, carved wooden artifacts were unearthed here as well as the first evidence of corn agriculture in the Southeast.
|
|
Ortona Mounds: Ortona, Florida 250 AD
These mounds feature the earliest canals constructed for transportation purposes in North America. Also features a pond in the shape of a ceremonial baton that would become a prominent symbol during the Mississippian time period.
|
|
Crystal River Mounds: Crystal River, Florida 150 BC - 1300 AD
Home to one of Florida's first truncated pyramid mounds & famous for its standing stone stellae which may have served calendrical functions.
|
|
Letchworth Mounds: Monticella, Florida 450 AD
Home to the largest precolumbian earthwork in Florida, a truncated pyramid mound rising over 42 feet high
|
|
|
|
