ARCHEOLOGICAL PROJECTS STIRLING 373 



problems involved. In early historic times the northern half of the 

 Florida peninsula was occupied by tribes belonging to the Timucuan 

 stock. The region from Lake Okeechobee south, including the Flor- 

 ida Keys and extending from the Gulf to the Atlantic, was occupied 

 by the Calusa Indians. Archeologically the northern half of the 

 State falls into two areas: that of the Gulf coast, which extends 

 from the Caloosahatchee River to the State line, is characterized by 

 the occurrence of a high grade pottery typically decorated by 

 negative designs or bands set off by stippled areas. Flexed and 

 secondary burials in low sand mounds are characteristic. The At- 

 lantic coast area extends from Palm Beach to the mouth of the St. 

 Johns River and is characterized by the occurrence of a poor grade 

 of pottery which is usually undecorated or check stamped. Burials 

 are usually extended, and sand burial mounds are often much larger 

 and higher than on the Gulf coast. Large sand mounds without 

 burials frequently occur. 



The region of the Calusa Indians forms an archeological unit, 

 although showing a definite relationship to the two areas bordering 

 it on the north. The use of the spear throw^er, and bone projectile 

 points, and the occurrence of characteristic carved wooden plaques, 

 are typical features of the material culture. All of the prehistoric 

 sites examined in this area seem to be rather closely related. No 

 site has as yet been found which does not appear to tie up closely with 

 the Calusa. The material from prehistoric sites differs but little from 

 that found in the early historic locations, save for the absence of 

 European trade goods. 



All of the prehistoric sites of Florida, thus far known, form part 

 of the general Southeastern culture area to the north and west and 

 have undoubtedly been derived from that direction. It is significant 

 to note that there appears to be a general absence of Antillean in- 

 fluence in the peninsula. In the past, several attempts have been 

 made to demonstrate the existence of such contacts, but the evidence 

 is unconvincing. There were undoubtedly some connections in pre- 

 historic times between the peoples of Florida and those of the West 

 Indies, yet it is remarkable how completely absent is the material 

 evidence of such contacts, which must have been culturally unimpor- 

 tant. In spite of the proximity of the Bahamas to Florida, the arche- 

 ology of these islands belongs definitely to the Antilles. 



In spite of the truly enormous extent of some of the Florida shell 

 mounds, the writer has been repeatedly impressed by the cultural 

 uniformity exhibited. The largest shell heaps have not shown impor- 

 tant cultural changes from bottom to top, except for those 

 brought about by European contacts. Present evidence seems to 

 indicate that Florida was one of the last sections of the Southeast to 



