THE " LOST " CALUSA INDIANS OF SOUTHWESTERN 



FLORIDA 



By henry B. COLLINS, JR., 



.lssisfa>it Curator. Diz-isioii of Etiniology, U. S. Natio)ial Mnscuin 



Of the more important Indian tribes native to the Southern States 

 none has been so nearly lost to history as the Cakisa, who once 

 dominated a large part of western and southern Florida. The first 

 recorded contact of the Calusa with Europeans was in 15 13 when they 

 successfully opposed the landing of Ponce de Leon on their shores. In 

 later years they were gradually pushed outward to the more remote 

 keys and decreased in num])ers and importance until, about 1835, there 

 was only a remnant left. Of the Calusa language nothing has survived 

 beyond the names of their former villages ; information on their cus- 

 toms is likewise scanty, and of their physical type very little is known. 

 Archeology alone can throw light on this latter phase, in addition to 

 supplying data on certain aspects of their material culture, and it was 

 for this purpose that I was detailed by the U. S. National Museum to 

 conduct archeological work in southwest Florida during the winter 

 of 1927-28. 



Two weeks were spent in making an examination of many of the 

 shell heaps and sand mounds in Lee, Collier, and Hendry counties, 

 following which more intensive work was carried on for another two 

 weeks. This work was greatly facilitated by the cooperation of Mr. 

 George H}att of Fort Myers, at whose suggestion the work was 

 undertaken, and of Mr. W. E. Colton, also of Fort Myers, who very 

 generously placed at my disposal his automobile and motor Ijoat. 



The aboriginal remains of this region are of two kinds, the kitchen- 

 middens or large heaps of shells, animal bones, and other refuse 

 thrown out by the ancient inhabitants, and the artificial sand mounds 

 sometimes built for burial purposes and sometimes as foundations for 

 temples or dwellings. The sand mounds that were found on the keys, 

 or islands, were in each case associated with extensive kitchen-middens 

 and had served as burial places for the Indians who lived nearby. 

 Away from the coast, however, there were other sand mounds, some 

 entirely artificial and some merely natural ridges or hills that had been 

 built higher. These mounds contained few or no burials and revealed 



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