The Domain of the Calusa: Archeology and Adventure in the Discovery of South Florida's Past

The original native people of Florida are the Seminoles, right? Nope. The Seminoles broke from the Creek confederation and moved into Florida in the 18th century. The original residents of South Florida were the Calusa, who managed to survive for two hundred years after the arrival of the Spanish before dying out completely. The Spanish missionaries found the Calusa intractable to Christianity and utterly uninterested in farming. Their vast natural resources of fish, mussels, and shells provided them with nearly everything they needed for survival and trade goods. Despite their tragic fate, the Calusa left behind a rich archeological record first explored a century ago and still underway today. It is doubly ironic that even these last remnants of the Calusa culture are being consumed by the maw of overdevelopment. Marco Island, the home of a once important, highly civilized Calusa site, has been stripped and covered with ugly high-rise vacation condos. Featuring top-notch production values and an excellent array of artwork and artifacts, the tape is highly recommended for libraries in the Southeast, and for other areas experiencing conflicts between archeology and development. Aud: I, J, C, P. (R. Reagan)