North American Indians
The Calusa of what is now Florida, USA
I haven't yet written much of the early peoples of North America, but if I live long enough I intend to write much more.
The words I now write of the Calusa are few. Even so I expect that will
be sufficient to fix the Calusa people and the name Calusa in the minds
of a few our readers.
In
the 1500s the Calusa still controlled much of the southwest of
Florida. They defended their land against the aggression of other
peoples including European explorers. The Spaniards knew them as
fierce. The Caloosahatchee River, with its mouth on the southwest of
Florida, was theirs.
They lived mostly along the inland waterways and developed them for
transportation and food production. The sea was also a source of food
for them. They left middens of seashells large enough in size to compete
with their great mounds and other earthworks. The fished with nets and
tapped fish.
The Calusa had a strong influence on the tribes around them. That
influence may be because of their wide trading. They typically used
dugouts for use at sea and along their inland waterways. They also
built and used larger vessels. They visited Cuba regularly and probably
sailed much farther into the Caribbean.
Their homes were built on platforms on pilings over the water. Their
buildings had particularly handsome roofing of palmetto leaves. It is
said that some of their 'houses' were large enough to easily accommodate
2000 persons!
They were excellent wood workers and they also did some fine wood
carving. They were excellent farmers, sailors, fishermen, and traders,
They are probably responsible for the construction of what we have
called bayous.
The apex of their culture probably dates well before 100 BC. Their middens and and earth works have been dated to that time.
We have much to learn from and about the Calusa. Please feel free to extend and correct our knowledge of them.
What is you interest in American Indians? Help me write to your interests.
Thank you for reading.
by R.C.S.