Archaeologists are digging at a Calusa mound at Brown's Mound Complex
in Pineland, Florida. They are investigating Mound 5 at the site. The
Calusa were the dominant tribe of south Florida when the Spanish
arrived. They received tribute from as far away as the Keys and Cape
Canaveral. So far, they have excavated lots of Belle Glade pottery
made by people from Lake Okeechobee. This shows the Calusa were
trading with and possibly controlling populations beyond their home in
the 8th and 9th centuries. Evidence of the period of drought known as
the Vandal Minimum are being found at Mound 5. Smaller shells like
conchs and whelks are being found; very few oysters, since the oyster
beds were dying; duck bones, which the Calusa did not normally eat.
Ducks were being forced south into Calusa territory by way of colder
winters during this period.

The Calusa formed as a tribe between 500 BCE and 500 CE. They were
making hafted shell tools, large sedentary populations and eating lots
of fish. Not a lot is known about their origins. Did they arrive late
to this area or are they related to earlier paleo-indian groups in the
area?

The News-Press of Ft. Myers has the story here;
http://www.news-press.com/article/20091105/NEWS0113/91105022/1002/RSS01

A tiny URL;
http://fwd4.me/2wX

Mike Ruggeri