Cattle, citrus, and many other food synonymous with Florida were actually brought over by the Spanish, so what were people eating before then? 2,000 years ago, the Calusa were a growing power in Southwest Florida, and would eventually dominate the area. They had a complex society with trade routes spanning hundreds of miles, a powerful military, and they engineered their environment including building wide canals and islands made of shells to make life better. Unlike other groups in Florida, and around the world, the Calusa built their expansive kingdom without agriculture, something that is often thought to be a requirement of complex societies. So what did they actually eat? Researchers have been busy studying how a society that collected all of its food by fishing, hunting and gathering was able to secure enough food to support its ambitious construction projects, military, and wide spread influence in the area. What was on the dinner table 2,000 years ago in Southwest Florida?
Purpose: Learn about what Southwestern Floridians had for dinner 2,000 years ago
Facilitator: Natalie De La Torre Salas (Guest Presenter - Florida Public Archaeology Network) |
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