Twelve thousand years ago Paleoindians arrived in Florida. They began building mounds. Some mounds served spiritual purposes. Others were simply waste dumps. Near today’s hockey arena a particularly tall mound existed. This is where we stand now. We’re at Florida’s First People The Mound Builders bust.
This bust commemorates those early inhabitants. They were the first Floridians. They constructed these impressive structures. These mounds tell a story of lives lived thousands of years ago. They were skilled builders and resourceful people.
The Tocobaga lived around Tampa Bay. They built their villages around meeting places. Their homes were round wooden structures with palm thatch roofs. Their mounds held the chief’s home and a temple. Burial mounds lay outside the villages. A midden a garbage heap of shells was near the kitchens. Shellfish were a staple food. They also hunted deer rabbits armadillos and squirrels. Surprisingly they also cultivated corn. This suggests trade with northern tribes.
The Tocobaga were skilled craftsmen. They made adzes from shells or stone. They also created tools by growing branches into shells. For hunting they used atlatls a type of spear. They sometimes wore deerskin or even deer heads for camouflage.
Sadly the arrival of Spanish explorers brought disease and violence. Measles smallpox and influenza devastated the population. Warfare and enslavement further reduced their numbers. The Tocobaga were extinct within a century. Archaeological digs have uncovered their pottery. This shows their skill as potters.
The Florida’s First People The Mound Builders bust reminds us of their story. It’s a tribute to their ingenuity resilience and rich culture. Their presence continues to shape Tampa. Their legacy lives on. We should remember their existence. They left their mark on this land.