The Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site is an

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

site on Terra Ceia Island in northwestern

Palmetto Palmetto (meaning "little palm") may refer to: Palms Several small palms in the Arecaceae (palm tree) family: *in the genus '' Sabal'': **Bermuda palmetto, ''Sabal bermudana'' **Birmingham palmetto, ''Sabal'' 'Birmingham' **Dwarf, or bush palm ...

, Florida, United States. It is located on Bayshore Drive, west of U.S. 19, a mile south of

I-275 Interstate 275 (I-275) may refer to: *Interstate 275 (Florida), a loop through Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton in Florida *Interstate 275 (Michigan), a western bypass of Detroit, Michigan *Interstate 275 (Ohio–Indiana–Kentucky), a full belt ...

. On August 12, 1970, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Florida State Park. The 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 The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190 acre natural area situated along the western shore of Tampa Bay, and located on 1800 Weedon Drive NE. St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is predominately an estuarine preserve composed of upland and a ...

, and Safety Harbor cultures. The people constructed a massive earthwork temple/ceremonial mound from shells, sand and detritus. It is still high, with a base nearly 100 by . 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 An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...

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 high temple/ceremonial mound. Composed of shells (obtained from a

midden A midden (also kitchen midden or shell heap) is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, mollusc shells, potsherds, lithics (especially debitage), and other artifacts and ecofact ...

to the west), sand, and

detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...

, the mound's base is by . To more easily reach the top, the Tocobaga constructed a curved 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 wide, and about 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

External links

Madira Bickel Mounds State Archaeological Site
a
Florida State Parks

Manatee County listings
Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs

School District of Manatee County

Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida {{authority control Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida National Register of Historic Places in Manatee County, Florida Parks in Manatee County, Florida Protected areas established in 1970 State parks of Florida Florida Native American Heritage Trail Mounds in Florida 1970 establishments in Florida