Archaeological history of approximately 5000 years.
Archaic period sites are not as prevalent on the gulf coast and are often not as well-preserved as Historic Spanish Point’s Hill Cottage Midden. Archaeological excavations and examinations of data place this midden clearly in the Archaic formative time. Given its age and the potential for further study, Hill Cottage Midden is among the most important sites in Florida, and may be one of the oldest and largest ceremonial shell ring middens in the southeastern United States.
Archaic period sites are not as prevalent on the gulf coast and are often not as well-preserved as Historic Spanish Point’s Hill Cottage Midden. Archaeological excavations and examinations of data place this midden clearly in the Archaic formative time. Given its age and the potential for further study, Hill Cottage Midden is among the most important sites in Florida, and may be one of the oldest and largest ceremonial shell ring middens in the southeastern United States.
More About Middens
The two large shell middens forming the Late Woodland and Manasota [3,200-1,000 years ago] context of the Palmer Site 8So2 offer a substantial glimpse at those populations, along with the Burial Mound, which is considered one of the largest systematically excavated mortuary sites in the southeastern United States. The excavation in 1959-1962 by Ripley P. Bullen created one of the biggest osteological collections housed at the University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History, allowing for comprehensive study.
- People living here 1000-2000 years ago were relatively healthy.
- Average age between 25-50 years.
- Bullen excavated over 429 individuals along with 4 dogs and a Florida Alligator
- The Alligator was buried with grave goods and appears to be the last burial in the mound- Bullen found no other disturbances after or above the level of the full Alligator skeleton.
- Though limited, grave goods and ceremonial elements were included with both the human and the animal burials in the mound.
(pottery, lithics, shell, and faunal material)
- Prehistoric people disappear from the archaeological record sometime prior to AD 1100
- To date, no evidence of European contact has been found indicating under current knowledge that the site was abandoned until the Webb family arrived in 1867.
- Average age between 25-50 years.
- Bullen excavated over 429 individuals along with 4 dogs and a Florida Alligator
- The Alligator was buried with grave goods and appears to be the last burial in the mound- Bullen found no other disturbances after or above the level of the full Alligator skeleton.
- Though limited, grave goods and ceremonial elements were included with both the human and the animal burials in the mound.
(pottery, lithics, shell, and faunal material)
- Prehistoric people disappear from the archaeological record sometime prior to AD 1100
- To date, no evidence of European contact has been found indicating under current knowledge that the site was abandoned until the Webb family arrived in 1867.