Archaeologists confirm Miami Circle about 2,000 years old

By MAYA BELL, Sun-Sentinel Nov. 2, 1999

Archaelogist says land under Interstate 4 span linking Seminole and Volusia counties could prove to be a 10,000-year-old bridge into area's past

MIAMI -- Forget the septic tank theory. New scientific tests confirm the notion that Miami's earliest inhabitants carved the mysterious circle into the limestone at the mouth of the Miami River about 2,000 years ago and were part of a thriving riverfront village, archaeologists announced on Tuesday.

"The circle would certainly appear to be ancient," said Ryan Wheeler, of the state's bureau of archaeological research. "It also seems to be the product of Native American hands."

Wheeler's pronouncement of authenticity, along with the results of radiocarbon dating on pieces of charcoal and animal bone found imbedded in or near the circle, should shut down skeptics who suggest that the odd, manmade depressions forming the circle are actually remnants of modern urban construction -- namely the drainage field from a 20th century septic tank. That, at least, was the theory postulated by one prominent archaeologist in a scholarly journal.

"Science is telling us it's older," said Bob Carr, who was Miami-Dade County's archaeologist when the circle was uncovered during a routine inspection of a riverfront construction site last year. "The tests certainly dispel the growing urban myth that this is some kind of modern construction. There is no evidence of that whatsoever."

Indeed, radiocarbon testing puts the average age of four out of five specimens evaluated so far at about 1,850 years old, Carr said. The fifth, part of shark skeleton believed to have been buried as an animal offering, is much younger, dating back to about 1650 A.D., which would have been during Florida's Spanish period.

Wheeler arrived at the site three weeks ago, after the state dispatched him to give an independent opinion of the circle's authenticity. He said he and his team have made some other titillating discoveries, among them more manmade holes similar to the ones that form the circle. The holes, some stuffed with shells and rocks, suggest that "there may be other features similar to the Miami Circle out there," he said.

Thirty-eight feet in diameter, the circle is actually a series of holes, some large and oval-shaped, some small and perfectly round, carved into the soft limestone bedrock. Carr and other archaeologists believe the Tequesta Indians or their ancestors dug the holes to hold posts for some sort of ceremonial lodging, such as a priest or counsel house. The newly discovered holes suggest other structures.

Other recent discoveries suggest a community of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of ancient people settled at the river's edge as early as 500 B.C., and thrived there until the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s. The rich dark deposits, Wheeler said, hold "debris from everyday life" -- bones, shells and the byproducts of meals. Charred fragments of wood with telltale marks from shell tools suggest an early canoe-making industry, he said.

But, on Tuesday, it was the conclusive evidence from radiocarbon dating that added an air of excitement to the tedious work of digging. While a handful of pieces of charcoal and bone may not sound like a large enough sample on which to draw any conclusions, they're plenty scientifically and statistically -- especially since the dated artifacts all were gathered from different spots but similar depths near or in the circle.

In addition to consistency, Carr said they show that the site has been intact for almost 2,000 years, remaining undisturbed even when six apartment buildings -- and their septic systems -- were built in 1950 and then demolished last year to make way for two luxury highrises.

"Now we have the scientific proof to back up what we've been saying all along: that this circle is not only authentic but it's a very important part of Florida's heritage," Carr said.

The circle could still become just a fleeting memory of Florida's heritage. While archaeologists may have plenty of evidence proving the site worthy of saving, they aren't close to having what's needed most to make preservation a reality: money.

Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet pledged $15 million toward the purchase, provided state archaeologists verified its authenticity. The county promised to kick in $3 million, vowing to raise the remaining $8.7 million from the scores of people and organizations who clamored to save the circle.

But Miami-Dade County has raised a mere pittance -- $20,000 -- of that $8.7 million. The county has less than three weeks to raise $2 million to meet its initial $20 million payment to developer Michael Baumann, due Nov. 30.

"Despite the impressive finds and developments announced (Tuesday), we are no closer to preserving the Miami Circle and, in fact, are on the brink of losing it, because funds are only trickling in," Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas said in a prepared statement.

"If we we don't raise $2 million in two weeks, there's going to be two highrises here in the year 2000," Carr said.

Maya Bell can be reached at mbell@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5003.