Good Day to all! Since I mentioned the Calusa in my “Ponce” columns, thought I’d provide a bit more information on them in this and my next column. Did you know that in the early 16th century, this area’s indigenous people were the most powerful in all of south Florida?
When Juan Ponce de Leon’s fleet entered the Charlotte Harbor estuary in late May 1513, he encountered a people and culture in place for over a millennium and they weren’t happy to see him. Early Spanish sources refer to them as the Calos, Calus, Caalus, and Carlos, but the name eventually became Calusa, interpreted as “fierce people”. And fierce they were, with warriors described as tall, well built, and having prevalent body paint, resisting Spanish and European conquest for 200 years.
The Calusa “kingdom”, centered on what is now Charlotte and Lee counties, is believed to have extended from just south of Tampa Bay to Cape Sable and at times even into the Florida Keys. The “fierce people” also exerted considerable influence on the Mayaimi around present day Lake Okeechobee, the Tequesta and Jaega on Florida’s southeast coast, and some believe perhaps even the Ais to the northeast, just south of today’s Cape Canaveral.
The Calusa were coastal dwellers and lacking stone, fashioned tools from oyster, clam, conch, and whelk shells. Relying on water routes to control their territory, they utilized dugout canoes to navigate coastal and interior waterways, even excavating canals to make travel more efficient. By the early 1600’s, it’s believed they had established trade with Cuba.
Unlike other of the peninsula’s indigenous people, the Calusa did not primarily cultivate the land, likely due to abundant seafood resources. Nets fashioned from palm fiber cord, with standard mesh sizes, were utilized to catch a variety of fish. Plentiful shellfish and crustaceans were easily harvested from the shallow waters and discarded shells heaped into large middens (mounds).
With this reliable food source, most estimates of the Calusa population center around 10,000 occupying some 50 villages, with speculation it may have reached upwards of 50,000. The largest village, home of the paramount chief referred to as a “king” by the Spanish, is thought to have been on Mound Key in Estero Bay, where his dwelling is described by early Spanish chroniclers as large enough to hold 2,000 people comfortably. More on what became of this powerful nation in my next column.
If you want to learn more about the Calusa, visit Randell Research Center on Pine Island, 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland.
“Did You Know” appears, typically, every other Wednesday, courtesy of this newspaper and the Charlotte County Historical Society. The Society’s mission is to help promote and preserve Charlotte County’s rich history. We are also always looking for volunteers and interested individuals to serve as board members. If you believe our area’s history is as important as we do, please visit Charlotte County Historical Society on-line at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/, or call 941- 769-1270 for more information
Check out History Services’ yearlong project, “Telling Your Stories: History in the Parks”. It began in January 2021 with placement of the first interpretive sign “Charlotte Harbor Spa” at South County Regional Park. The last was dedicated December 15, 2021 at Centennial Park featuring Florida postcards. All dedicated signs can be viewed at online library resources. Select “Programs and Services”, then “History Services” and “Virtual Programs”.
Visit the same site to access recently released oral histories featuring 40 local folks. Select “History Services” and scroll down, or phone 941-629-7278, to find out what history related programs and videos are available.
September 11 column
