St. Johns culture
The St. Johns culture was an
Defining characters and environment
The St. Johns culture is defined in terms of
The St. Johns culture was based on the exploitation of
Diet and resources
While oyster, clam and mussel shells dominate the middens, bones found in the middens indicate that catfish were a much larger component of the St. Johns people's diet than were shellfish.[7] The St. Johns diet consisted of a wide variety of fish, shellfish, reptiles, mammals and birds. Investigation of a site at Hontoon Island indicated that fresh water snails, fish and turtles provided most of the meat consumed at the site, and that those resources were exploited year-round.[2] Plant foods included berries, nuts, cabbage palm, amaranth, and various small plants, especially those growing in wetlands. Gourds were grown, but probably used as containers.[8] Maize cultivation reached the Timucua speakers of the St. Johns culture area around 750, although some authorities think the arrival was as late as 1050. The southernmost part of the St. Johns culture area (the Mayacas) had not acquired maize cultivation at the time of first European contact. The St. Johns peoples were not as dependent on maize cultivation as were most cultures in the southeastern United States, as suitable soil for sustainable maize production was scarce in the wetlands favored for habitation, and abundant wetland resources were available year-round.[2][9][10]
Except along the western fringes of the region, the only stone resources available were soft coquina and sandstone, which were used for grinding and abrading tools.[2] Tools and implements were more often made of bone and shell, than of stone. Stone artifacts (usually made of chert)[3] in the St. Johns culture are a mixture of styles preserved from the Archaic period with styles representative of neighboring cultures.[2] Wooden artifacts that were preserved in water and wet soils have also been found.[2]
Mounds
Purpose-built
The early mounds in the St. Johns culture region were generally 4 feet (1.2 m) high up to an occasional 10 feet (3.0 m). The number of burials in a mound might be as high as 100, but most held fewer than 25. After 1050 influence from the
Notes
- ^ Milanich. Pp. 40-1 (map)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Florida Historical Contexts Chapter 7. EAST AND CENTRAL FLORIDA, 3200 B.P.-A.D. 1565. Florida Division of Historical Resources. At [1] - Retrieved July 14, 2007
- ^ a b c Pelotes Island Nature Preserve - Woodland Period - St. Johns Cultures - 500 BC to 1500 AD Archived 2011-11-12 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved July 17, 2007
- ^ Milanich. P. 46
- ^ ""Episode 02 Ceramic Pots" by Robert Cassanello and Chip Ford". stars.library.ucf.edu. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ^ Milanich. P. 38-9
- ^ Milanich. P. 40
- ^ Milanich. P.42
- ^ Milanich. P. 44-5
- ^ Volusia County Heritage - People of the Shell Mounds: the Earliest Volusians - How They Lived Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved July 17, 2007
- ^ Milanich. Pp. 48-9
- ^ Milanich. Pp. 50-2
References
- ISBN 0-8130-1599-5
External links
- Southeastern Prehistory - Middle Woodland Period - Retrieved July 17, 2007
- An Environmental History of Northeast Florida By Miller, James J. - Retrieved July 17, 2007
- Ceramic Pots at A History of Central Florida Podcast