:: Miami
Circle Archeological Zone
401 Brickell Avenue
Date of Site: 500 B.C. to 900 A.D.
Date Designated: Pending
a. Aerial photograph of the Miami Circle.
The Miami Circle, also known as the Brickell Point site, is believed to
be the southern part of the pre-Columbian village of Tequesta that used
to exist on both the north and south banks of the Miami River. It is thought
that the circular formation of holes that have been cut out of the oolitic
limestone bedrock represents the footprint of a structure such as a council
house, a chief 's house, or a temple. There are also various unique features
at this site. There is an intended marking of the cardinal points. A series
of holes forms an east-west line with a carving of a human-like eye at
the circle's eastern point that might have some association with the equinox
and solstice. Other directions were indicated with distinctive cuts or
rocks set in the holes. Artifacts recovered, including the remains of
a fully articulated shark, a complete sea turtle carapace, and non-local
basaltic axes, indicate the site may have had ceremonial importance to
the Tequesta. The Miami Circle is the only complete cut-in-rock prehistoric
structural footprint discovered in eastern North America. Due to the importance
of this discovery, the State purchased the property in 1999. The Miami
Circle was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 2001.
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