Photo story: See how archaeologists are digging up prehistoric Miami, finding ancient artifacts
By Andres Viglucci and
Matias Ocner
An overhead view shows the site of a major archaeological excavation on the Miami River slated for high-rise development in Miami’s Brickell district. Archaeological teams have dug to the natural limestone bedrock where postholes marking the foundation of structures in a 2,500-year-old Tequesta town have been uncovered. Hundreds of thousands of artifacts, animal and human remains and other evidence of indigenous occupation going back as far as 7,000 years have been found.
MATIAS J. OCNER
mocner@miamiherald.com
What they have uncovered has stunned Miami and reverberated well beyond: Hundreds of thousands of artifacts, whole or in pieces, fragmentary animal and human remains, and hundreds of postholes carved into the uneven limestone bedrock that once supported structures in a populous Tequesta town.
All of it, archaeologists say, adds up to surprisingly abundant and well preserved evidence of extensive indigenous occupation at the mouth of the Miami River stretching back 2,500 years, and very possibly even as long as 7,000 years ago.
And it’s meant a whole lot of controversy as well, as the Related Group, the developers who own the property and have been required by law to cover the high cost of the excavation, press ahead with plans to build the first two of three planned towers on the site.
This week, the city’s historic preservation board, acting under mounting public pressure after independent archaeologists put a bright spotlight on the findings, voted to consider designating a portion of the Related property as protected landmark, while allowing development to proceed on the other while also requiring the developer to submit a plan detailing how the archaeological findings will be preserved, exhibited and highlighted.
The property and the excavation can be plainly seen from adjacent buildings. In late January, Miami Herald photographer Matias Ocner photographed the ongoing work from two adjacent towers at the invitation of residents.
The images tell a story of an extraordinary historic site, the precise location of Miami’s prehistoric founding, buried in layers of development but revealed to the light and salvaged after long centuries by the assiduous and methodical work of archaeological researchers.
A view of the Tequesta bronze statue on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in Miami. Artifacts going back 7,000 years have been found at a nearby construction site, along with postholes, gravesites, human remains and other evidence of substantial settlement by the Tequesta Native American tribe. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Before modern development occurred, the excavation site, seen here at the bottom, was part of an extensive Tequesta capital that occupied both banks of the mouth of the Miami River and included the Miami Circle, seen at top, an arrangement of evenly spaced postholes which is believed to mark the foundation of a ceremonial building more than 2,000 years old. The circle has been covered in protective soil and is a state park today. The office building in the middle is believed to sit atop another trove of prehistoric relics that will be excavated once it’s demolished for redevelopment in the near future. The city’s historic preservation board is considering enacting protective landmark measures for the office building site. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Aerial view shows people working an archaeological dig site located near Brickell on the River on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in Miami. Artifacts going back 7,000 years have been found at the site, along with postholes, gravesites, human remains and other evidence of substantial settlement by the Tequesta Native American tribe. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
People are seen working an archaeological dig site located near Brickell on the River on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in Miami. Artifacts going back 7,000 years have been found at the site, along with postholes, gravesites, human remains and other evidence of substantial settlement by the Tequesta Native American tribe. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Archaeologists comb through the limestone bedrock as they search for deposits of prehistoric artifacts and other materials in natural sinkholes. Experts say the excavation work has found evidence at the site of ritual burial, likely of Tequesta people, and of feasting and ceremonial animal offerings buried in the earth and in sinkholes. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
The uneven limestone bedrock at the site is marked by natural sinkholes and round postholes, believed to have been carved by Tequesta people more than 2,000 years ago, that formed the foundation for houses, elevated walkways and other structures. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Archaeological teams wear protective gloves and carefully remove and wash even the smallest bits of prehistoric materials found on the site that can provide information on thousands of years of likely indigenous occupation. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
People are seen working an archaeological dig site located near Brickell on the River on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in Miami. Artifacts going back 7,000 years have been found at the site, along with postholes, gravesites, human remains and other evidence of substantial settlement by the Tequesta Native American tribe. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Archaeological team members painstakingly sort and catalog every bit of prehistoric material recovered from the excavation on tables set up at the site. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
The team of archaeologists excavated bone artifacts from the site. Courtesy of the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy.
This story was originally published April 7, 2023 at 4:35 PM.
