History With RCS: Calusa, a people we deserve to know more about.
In
the 1500s the Calusa still controlled much of the southwest of
Florida. They defended their land against the aggression of other
peoples including European explorers. The Spaniards knew them as
fierce. The Calooshahtchee River, with its mouth on the southwest of
Florida, was theirs.
They lived mostly
along the inland water ways and developed them for transportation and
food production. The sea was also a source of food for them. They left
middens of seashells large enough in size to compete with their great
mounds and other earthworks. The fished with nets and tapped fish.
The Calusa had a
strong influence on the tribes around them. That influence may be
because of their wide trading. They typically used dugouts for use at
sea and along their inland waterways. They also built and used larger
vessels. They visited Cuba regularly and probably sailed much farther
into the Caribbean.
Their homes were
built on platforms on pilings over the water. Their buildings had
particularly handsome roofing of palmetto leaves. It is said that some
of their 'houses' were large enough to easily accommodate 2000 persons!
They were excellent
wood workers and they also did some fine wood carving. They were
excellent farmers, sailors, fishermen, and traders, They are probably
responsible for the construction of what we have called bayous.
The apex of their culture probably dates well before 100 BC. Their middens and and earth works have been dated to that time.
We have much to learn from and about the Calusa. Please feel free to extend and correct our knowledge of them.
There is more of Native Americans on this blog and I hope to publish more.
Tell us what you would like to see more of here. There is a place for your comments below.
Thank you for reading. You are welcome to read more.
by R.C.S.
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