Page Updated: September 15, 2023
Pineland Site
Pineland Site - Pineland FL
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pineland Site, located on Pine Island, is an archeological area that extends more than 60 acres from the coastline. The site contains remnants of the life and culture of the Calusa - a prominent Native American fishing people who thrived in the rich estuaries surrounding southern Florida.
On September 28, 2022, Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall near the island of Cayo Costa, FL. Damage to the island and the surrounding greater Fort Myers area was catastrophic. Many communities lost businesses and homes. The determined began the arduous process of rebuilding. Others have chosen to move on.
I had never heard of the Calusa. Must’ve not been paying attention that day in school. But since we came across references to them at several locations over the greater Fort Myers area, they were obviously a prominent culture. The most notable reference we found was at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Isalnd.
Our visit to Pineland Site took us along the Calusa Heritage Trail. The short 1-mile trail leads over remnants of a canal constructed by the Calusa and around Smith Mound, a burial site for their dead. Interpretive signs at the mound convey the despite the Spanish attempts to covert the Calusa to Catholicism, the Calusa believed there to be three persons who govern the world… the first is greater than the other two.
The archeological mounds on Pineland site are referred to as middens. The mounds are historical trash piles full discarded shells. Undisturbed mounds were strong enough to be used as foundations for new structures. Mounds could reach heights of 300 feet. Since height usually indicated wealth or power, prominent mounds were likely reserved for chiefs.
Artifacts and replicas are displayed at the site’s modest gift shop. It’s interesting to see how creative the Calusa were with something as simple as seashells.
Our visit was on an extremely warm Saturday, and we walked the grounds on our own. We were the only visitors on the property.
Guided tours are available at select points in the year. Details can be found here. As a point of note, The Randell Research Center requests a $7 donation for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for students.
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Matlacha
Calusa Heritage Trail
