They were an educated tribe, a people who could
read the signs of the weather and the time of year,
and with a few other determining factors were very
consistent in knowing where the fish were and when
they would feed. They had a very developed
and complex social and political
system, with their reach encompassing
most of south Florida.
They maintained a thriving
economic system based
mainly on gathering and
fishing rather than farming.
The Calusa had plenty of
fish and with a little
foraging could provide
for their food needs
more than adequately.
In a past Boca Beacon.
interview with Dr. William
Marquardt, the curator of
South Florida Archaeology and
Ethnography and director of the
Randell Research Center in Pineland, he
said, “When there was an interruption in their
food source, like a hurricane, the Calusa would trade
with other tribes in the interior of the state. Most
tribes were obliged to do so, considering the Calusa’s
reputation as fierce warriors.”
There is a widespread belief that the Calusa
Indians were subject to the artistic influence of the
Mayans of Mexico. This can be seen particularly in
the carving of masks by the tribes, which bear a
striking
resemblance
to masks
created by the
Mayans. Calusa
shell mounds
were created
much in the
way of the
Mayans, too, as
were their
tools.
Evidence of
the Mayan
influence is supported by a 14th century account of
Columbus’ second voyage, during which there were
reports of Indian sightings believed to be Mayans
traveling from the Yucatan Peninsula to the vicinity
of Cuba and the mainland of the United States.
The Calusa were quite set in their own culture
and rituals, so much so that when Jesuit priests
came they were unable to convert them. Calusa
beliefs were much different than those
of the priests. For instance, they
believed that each person has
three souls – one of which
was thought to dwell in
the eye and was
immortal. The chief ’s
priests were also said
to have communicated
with the dead
at will.
Information provided
by the Useppa
Island Historical
Society shows that it is
clear the Calusa people
became hostile and defensive
toward European settlers
in the middle of the 16th century,
primarily because of the foraging practices
of Spanish invaders. The Indian settlers of
this entire area are thought to have been killed
off in large numbers during attempts to convert
them. When the British attempted to clear the
Spanish out of Florida they recruited the Creek
Indian groups, who then became embroiled in
wars with local Calusa tribes.
The Calusa were the most powerful group in
South Florida
for their time,
and played an
important
role in both
the prehistory
and the
subsequent
European
settlement of
the state. The
earliest
written
recording of
this tribe’s archaeology by a European was by
Frank H. Cushing of Philadelphia in 1895. He
reported finding great similarities between the
major Calusa mound cities of Joslin’s Island,
84 GASPARILLA ISLAND May/June 2018
The Calusa were a very spiritual people.