What was the Miami Circle: Evidence Bearing on the Origin of the Miami Circle and its Significance


Evidence Bearing on the Origin of the Miami Circle and its Significance	"What was the Miami Circle?" September 28, 1999
by George Luer

A. Evidence bearing on the origin of the Miami Circle
   1. The presence of aboriginal artifacts in the Circle's holes and basins, plus the lack of historic-period artifacts in the same contexts, support an aboriginal origin of the Circle.
   2. The presence of a precipitate or crust on the surface of the Circle's holes and basins supports the antiquity of these features.
   3. The lack of a precipitate or crust on the surface of the rock along the linear cuts associated with the septic tank and footer trench supports a recent origin of these features.
   4. The presence of backhoe bucket teeth marks in the rock along the linear cuts associated with the septic tank and footer trench supports a recent origin of these features.
   5. The superposition of the septic tank and footer trench over or through the Circle's adjacent holes and basins is indicative of the more recent origin of the septic tank and footer trench.
   6. The shallow, vertical grooves in some of the Circle's holes and basins appear to be tool marks of a kind supporting an aboriginal origin of these features.
   7. The size and shape of the Circle's Individual holes and basins are consistent with what are frequently termed "post-holes" and "wall-trenches" at some other sites of aboriginal origin, and this supports an aboriginal origin of these features. In this view, the Circle's holes and basins originally would have accommodated wooden upright posts (not stones) that long ago were removed or rotted away.
   8. The general circular pattern of the Miami Circle resembles some other post-hole patterns of aboriginal structures that have been documented archaeologically in the southeastern United States include as chief's houses and as council houses.

View of "eye-like" basin cut into the limestone bedrock on the Circle's eastern point. Postholes like this are similar to known prehistoric postholes. (John Ricisak/Miami-Dade Historic Preservation Division) [LARGER IMAGE]

B. Significance
   1. Significance in Aboriginal Contexts
      a. The Miami Circle's position in the landscape suggests that it had an important role at the Brickell Point site .Situated near the water's edge, it was easily accessible by canoe via the mouth of the Miami River. Situated on a point, it was widely visible from Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. Conversely, its location afforded wide views overlooking both Biscayne Bay to the East and a stretch of the Miami River to the West.
      b. The Miami Circle's location at the Brickell Point site suggests that it had an important role in local and regional aboriginal society. The Brickell Point site is a portion of a regionally important Indian village. During the historic contact period, ca. A.D. 1500-1750, this village was known as Tequesta and was the seat of an aboriginal polity.
      c. The Miami Circle represents the first remains to be identified archaeologically in southeastern Florida of what appears to be an aboriginal structure. As such, it is a rare and potentially unique cultural resource.
      d. There is widespread public interest in the Miami Circle.
   2. Significance in Research Potential
      a. Further analysis of materials excavated from the Miami Circle (e.g., ceramics, faunal bone, botanical remains, etc.) can help determine more about the structure's age and function, and about the people who used it.
      b. Further analysis of the Circle's pattern of holes and basins could reveal more information about little-known aboriginal architecture in Florida. It is possible that the Miami Circle represents only the central portion of a larger structure, other remains of which are still unexcavated and covered by earth at the Brickell Point site.

George Luer is a graduate student at the University of Florida and a 15-year veteran of Florida archaeology.

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