Misplaced Pages

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Archaeological site in Florida, United States

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Path leading to the mound
Map showing the location of Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological SiteMap showing the location of Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological SiteShow map of FloridaMap showing the location of Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological SiteMap showing the location of Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological SiteShow map of the United States
LocationManatee County, Florida, USA
Nearest cityPalmetto, Florida
Coordinates27°33′55″N 82°35′34″W / 27.56528°N 82.59278°W / 27.56528; -82.59278
Area10 acres (0.040 km)
EstablishedAugust 12, 1970 (1970-08-12)
Governing bodyFlorida Department of Environmental Protection

The Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site is an archaeological site on Terra Ceia Island in northwestern Palmetto, Florida, United States. It is located on Bayshore Drive, west of U.S. 19, a mile south of I-275. On August 12, 1970, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Florida State Park.

The 10-acre (0.040 km) site was the first Native American location in Florida to be designated as a State Archaeological Site.

History

Archaeological excavations have established that indigenous occupation reaches back 2,000 years, and across three distinct periods: Manasota, Weedon Island, and Safety Harbor cultures. The people constructed a massive earthwork temple/ceremonial mound from shells, sand and detritus. It is still 20-foot (6.1 m) high, with a base nearly 100 by 170 feet (52 m).

Scholars believe that the mound site continued to be of great ceremonial importance to the historic Tocobaga Indians of the surrounding area, who coalesced as a people before European encounter in the late sixteenth century. They survived into the eighteenth century but disappeared as a tribe due to infectious diseases and warfare.

The site is named for Madira Bickel of Sarasota. She and her husband, Karl, purchased the land around the main mound and donated it to the state in 1948.

The mounds

The point of greatest interest at the site is the 20-foot (6.1 m) high temple/ceremonial mound. Composed of shells (obtained from a midden to the west), sand, and detritus, the mound's base is 100 feet (30 m) by 170 feet (52 m). To more easily reach the top, the Tocobaga constructed a curved 10-foot (3.0 m) wide ramp on the western side.

The state park has graduated stairways for access, and at the top, has cleared an area (protected by a fence) for overlooking the park. Over the centuries, the mound has become covered with vegetation, including tall trees.

Also in the park are the remains of the Prine Burial Mound, which is circular, about 40 feet (12 m) wide, and about 2 feet (0.61 m) high at the center. It was used through the three major archaeological cultures described above, from 800-1500 AD. Since settlement and development, much of the mound's contents have been disturbed.

References

  1. "Welcome to Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site". Florida State Parks. Retrieved April 23, 2018.

External links

Indigenous peoples of Pre-Columbian Florida
Periods
Paleoindians
Archaic period
Post-Archaic period
Archaeological
cultures
Archaeological
sites
Human
remains
  • Manasota Key Offshore
  • Melbourne Man
  • Vero man
  • Warm Mineral Springs
  • Windover
  • Miscellaneous
    Related
    Pre-Columbian era
    Pre-Columbian North America
    Periods
    Lithic
    Archaic
    Formative
    Classic
    Post-Classic
    Archaeological
    cultures
    Archaeological
    sites
    Human
    remains
    Miscellaneous
    Related
    Genetic history
    Pre-Columbian era
    Protected areas of Florida
    Federal level
    National parks
    National memorials
    National monuments
    National seashores
    National forests
    National
    wildlife refuges
    Other national
    protected areas
    National Marine Sanctuaries
    National Estuarine Research Reserves
    National Wild and Scenic Rivers
    State level
    Parks
    Botanical garden parks
    Lakes, rivers
    and springs parks
    Recreation areas
    Museums, historic sites,
    and archaeological sites
    Preserves and reserves
    State trails
    State forests
    Local level
    Preserves and reserves
    Categories:
    Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site Add topic