What was the Miami Circle: Observations Regarding Inspection of Brickell Point Site


Observations Regarding Inspection of Brickell Point Site	"What was the Miami Circle?" September 28, 1999
by Herschel E. Shepard

Excavation unit reveals the undisturbed midden underlying bedrock cut with postholes. (John Ricisak/Miami-Dade Historic Preservation Division) [LARGER IMAGE]

A. General
The following observations are those of an architect with experience in the preservation of certain Native American, Spanish colonial, English colonial, American territorial, and later nineteenth and twentieth century sites and structures in Florida.

B. Description
   1. The exposed limestone investigated by Bob Carr exhibits numerous holes and fissures and a modern reinforced-concrete septic tank. Many of the holes in the limestone appear to be natural and many appear to be man-made. The man-made openings can be identified by marks left by the tools used by the fabricators. The tool marks appear to have been created by some type of hand tool and not by power-driven machinery. This evidence, plus archaeological evidence that the shell midden that was located above the limerock predated the man-made holes, indicates that the septic tank is a later intrusion on an earlier site.
   2. Preliminary study indicates that many of the smaller man-made holes do not create a recognizable pattern when viewed as a group, but further study is required. However, a clearly visible circle approximately 38 feet in diameter is created by a series of the man-made holes. This series consists of large, approximately rectangular holes, approximately regularly spaced, which alternate with smaller approximately rectangular holes The rectangular openings, both large and small, were apparently created by locating circular, or near-circular, holes adjacent to one another and by then removing intervening material. The long axes of the rectangular holes lie on the circumference of the circle. There is reasonable evidence that twenty-four large holes were provided. The total number of smaller openings provided between the large holes is less clear, for a smaller opening does not seem to have been provided between larger holes near the east-west axis on the east side, or near the north-south axis on the south side. In addition, the smaller hole near the east-west axis on the west side seems to have been offset to the north.
   3. Another less-visible circle, approximately concentric with the 38-foot circle, is traced by a series of man-made holes which lie two to three feet outside the 38-foot circumference. Large circular holes, from 12 to 15 cm. in diameter, can be traced around the northern half of the circle and around part of the southern portion of the circle (verified on site by George Luer). The holes seem to be regularly spaced at about the same interval as the larger holes in the 38-foot circle. In addition, smaller holes at various spacings are located between the larger holes on the larger circle.
   4. There is also evidence that in at least two instances the man-made holes are aligned in straight rows. One row of irregularly spaced holes runs approximately east-west through the circle and is nearly aligned with the north face of the septic tank. A second row runs approximately west-northwest to the east-southeast through the circle, intersecting the circle a little north of its east-west axis on the east side.
   5. One very large circular man-made hole is located, approximately, on the east-west axis of the circle, about half-way between the center and the circumference.
   6. Further analysis may reveal other patterns which are not immediately obvious.

C. Discussion
   1. The holes aligned in circles and straight lines suggest that the holes received posts that were part of a structure or structures. However, there is not enough data available to determine whether or not the holes aligned in straight rows were related to each other, the circles, another structure, or other entities. Therefore, they will not be discussed further here, except to say that although they seem to be contemporary with the other holes, they may be evidence that the site contained successive structures before the midden was established.
   2. The holes arranged in circles are not part of any European colonial, American territorial, or later American construction typologies with which I am familiar.
   3. The holes arranged in circles appear to reflect certain construction typologies used in the southeastern US by Native Americans for large structures utilized as council houses, chiefs' residences.. and for other purposes. The wide spacing of the holes indicates that the structure was not a circular palisaded defensive structure, which is another Native American typology. Prehistoric and historic council houses and similar structures have been documented in historical accounts and archaeology, a summary of which can be found in Shapiro, Gary and Bonnie G. McEwan, 1992, "Archaeology at San Luis, Part One: The Appalachee Council House." Florida Archaeology 6:7-18, 63-68. Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research.
   4. If one assumes that the holes arranged in circles are evidence of a council house or similar structure and compares this site with other documented sites, several similarities and differences become apparent:
      a. The roof and sidewalls, if any, probably were thatched with palm.
      b. If the 38-foot circle marks the outer perimeter of the structure, the structure is similar in size to smaller structures at other documented sites. There is no evidence of interior columns, with the exception of the one large off-centered hole, for which there is no precedent for use as a column. It is possible that a conical roof, similar to that at the Chief's House at San Luis, was constructed, with or without sidewalls, but without interior columns.
      c. It is possible that this smaller building was accompanied by a larger structure which served as a Council House.
      d. On the other hand, the 38-foot circle may be an inner ring of support posts for a larger structure, possibly 60 feet or more in diameter. This larger size, however, would not eliminate the possibility that other and possibly larger structures existed at the site.
      e. The presence of the two concentric circles, similar in size and post spacing, may indicate that different structures occupied the site at different times. Similarly, the elongation of the large and small post holes on the 38-foot circle may have resulted form the construction of successive buildings, or may have provided some tolerance for adjusting the spacing of the posts around the perimeter.
      f. The smaller posts located between the larger posts, and many posts which appear to have been located at random, may be related to benches constructed for the occupants.
      g. Entrances, or passageways between benches, may have been located on the east, south, and west extremes of the circle where there is no evidence of smaller posts (east and south), or smaller posts are located to one side (west).

D. Recommendations
This site has extraordinary promise, both as an archaeological and as a cultural resource. The entire site should be investigated to obtain as much archaeological data as possible, including additional features that may be related to the 38-foot circle and other structures that may have been on the site. The knowledge gained would be a very valuable addition to research related to the Native Americans of Florida and the southeast. The creation on this site of a public park with appropriate interpretation would be an outstanding cultural contribution benefiting the southeast, Florida, Dade County, and Miami.

Herschel E. Shepard is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Architecture at the University of Florida.

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