Florida Native American Artifact Bag
The following is a collection of photographs depicting artifacts from the Calusa Indian
tribe of Florida. At one time in history, the Calusa Nation inhabited the lands of southwest
Florida where the cities of Tampa Bay, Sarasota, Cape Coral, and Naples are located today. Due
to their geographical location, the Calusa Indians were also known as the ‘Shell Indians’. The
Calusa were expert fisherman, and they ingeniously used the natural elements of the earth, such
as seashells, wood, and bones, for weapons, food, and tools for everyday life. Though little is
known about the Calusa Indians, researchers have uncovered various wooden masks and
statuettes that once belonged to this resourceful and strong tribe. The Calusa Indians are
unfortunately now extinct; however, their migration into the Seminole Indians leaves hope that
their descendents are still here today.
The first photograph is a depiction of two recovered shell artifacts from a Calusa
excavation site. These shells were attached to long wooden poles and used for hunting, growing
crops, cooking, and almost every activity done by the Calusa Indians. The other pictures, the two
masks and the wooden cat, show more artifacts that were recovered in excavation sights around
the southwest Florida region. The maps represent the original territory of Tampa Bay, as well as
the whole map of Florida. From the photographs I selected, I hope that my students will become
more interested in the Native Indian Tribes of Florida, and that they will understand that history
is still alive and researchers are still learning and uncovering artifacts from this nonexistent tribe
every day.
Timucua artifacts: The first drawing shows an alligator hunt. I like this photo because it
truly shows how the Native Americans had to survive. The only hunting for big game was the
alligator in the beach section of Florida. I would love to see students draw a photo of what life
would be like if they had to live without mosquito control. Perhaps the mosquitoes would look
gigantic, like the alligator, if they realized the harm that those small insects caused. The second
photo is one that I also particularly like because it is an actual owl totem pole found in the St.
Johns River. I want students to realize that there could possibly be a whole world beneath their
feet. Picture three shows a rendition of what a Timucuan hut actually looked like. I would have
students use this as a model to re-create what Florida’s Native Americans used for shelter.
Picture four shows pottery that was possibly made by Timucuans. I would have students make
their own pottery using a flour and cream of tartar mix to integrate arts and social studies. Photo
five is an actual shell that I collected from Cocoa Beach after a hurricane. I would ask students
how they would use this shell if they were settlers in pre Columbian Florida. Then I would show
them a diagram of how the shell has been used by the Native Floridians. Six is an interesting
piece of rock that I found while boating and wading in the Indian River. It looked like a possible
arrowhead. In looking at the diagram on page 12 in Journeys with Florida’s Indians, it could
possibly have been used as a hoe blade. Picture seven is an alligator tooth that I purchased from
a science store. I would remind students that every piece of an animal was used after a hunt.
Then I would ask students what they would use this item for if they were the first settlers of
Florida. I would ask the same question for picture eight, shark teeth.
Picture of oysters and clams: The Ais tribe lived near on the Eastern Coast and the
barrier islands. The Ais Indians were hunter gathers. Their diet was rich in fish, turtle, shellfish,
deer and other game. They fished with hooks made from the toe bones of the deer. The picture
of oysters and clams allows students to realize that these creatures are a type of shellfish which
will help them when we discuss the shell middens.
Picture of cocoplums: The Ais Indians also ate cocoplums, sabal palm berries and other
gathered fruits. Florida has many different plants that produce fruit. The Ais Indian’s used these
fruits to help supplement their diet of shell fish. Some students may not know what some of the
different plants/berries look like around Florida and this will allow them to connect what they
seen and learned with this unit to their environment.
Picture of seashells/real shells: Shells were used by the Ais tribe for tools, weapons, and
jewelry. Due to being on the East Coast of Florida, shells and shell fish are very prevalent.
Students will be able to see the different shells found on the East Coast and visualize why shells
were used for tools, weapons, and jewelry. Students can touch real shells and see how the Ais
Indian’s could use these as tools or jewelry.
Picture of a shell midden: These shell midden or mounds were the community trash
heaps. These middens consisted of mollusk shells, pottery, animal bones and sometimes human
bones. Shell midden’s are important today because archaeologists can learn much about the
Indians from that day and age. Students will be able to see what a midden looks like. There are
many around our area today and this allows students to connect their environment with their
learning.
Ceramics: The Tequesta Tribe of Southern Florida inhabited what is known as Miami,
today. Scientists have found pottery shreds in the Miami Circle that date back to 500 B.C. From
these pottery shreds it is clear that the tribe was not big on decorations or designing their pottery,
as the shreds found are plain and simple. The Miami Circle has been designated a historical site
ever since the discovery of the early life of Florida’s Native Americans. Miami Circle is a 38foot circle that had been shaped out of the limestone bedrock. Thousands of artifacts have been
found here and can all be traced back to the Tequesta Indians which seemed to have lived over
five-hundred years ago. Introducing the Miami Circle to students will hopefully capture their
interests in the Florida Indians having found clues from their previous lives here in their home
state of Florida.
Stone Axes: Stone axes have also been recovered at the historical Miami Circle. These
axes are important for they show a long-distance exchange must have occurred between the
Tequesta Indians and those of other parts of Florida. The material of the stone axes is made up
of basaltic rock, which is a material known to Macon, Georgia and the Caribbean. It has not
been determined what the axes were used for specifically; however, they were a type of tool of
the Tequesta Indians. I would like students to focus on the idea of long-distance trading and how
the Indians of this time survived without the resources we have today.
Drawing of Native Americans Playing a Sport: The drawing below shows a group of
Native Americans playing a sport. It is not known what the sport was called, but one can
compare it to known sports today by looking closely at the drawing. The drawing was
completed in 1588 by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. Students may find this drawing
interesting and become more connected to the study of Native Americans from Florida by
learning of their common interest in sports. I feel that this drawing brings a different perspective
to the Native Americans by showing them having fun with the resources they had.
Bone Artifacts: The Tequesta Tribe of South Florida used various bones as tools for
everyday life. These bones once belonged to various species including deer and shark. The
Indians used these bones to create tools to assist in weaving, processing leather, wood carving,
and bone working. Decorations on these tools are limited as it is believed that the Tequesta
Indians preferred a simpler look. Students will be introduced to these artifacts and asked to
compare their tools today to the tools of these Native Americans. Students will be probed to
consider life during this time and the reasons that this tribe may have had for using these handmade tools and how it benefited their daily lives.