The Windover Archeological Site is an Early Archaic (6000 to 5000 BC) archaeological site and National Historic Landmark in Brevard County near Titusville, Florida, on the central east coast of the state. The developers changed their overall plans in order to preserve the pond intact and donated $60,000 worth of pumping equipment to drain the pond for excavation. He knew the area wasn't known for having boulders and rocks. Windover Pond is one of a number of sites in Florida excavated since 1970 that have led to a major reassessment of the Archaic period in Florida. Work was halted while authorities were called to determine the age and circumstances of the remains. Contents found within the corpses’ as well as other organic remains found in the bog reveal an ecosystem rich in diversity. The vegetated 8.5-acre upland buffer bordering the Windover Archaeological Site has been purchased for $90,000 by The Archaeological Conservancy. Adults of both sexes exhibited a high incidence of osteoarthritis. [13][14], While some of the remains were mixed, about 100 undisturbed burials were found with fully articulated bones, in roughly the correct position and relationship in the body. The people's teeth were worn down early in life, presumably from sand in food, but few had cavities. While humans have created textiles since the dawn of culture, many are fragile and disintegrate rapidly. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. Items such as atlatls and projectile points, were found at Windover. [15][16][17], In late 1984 the archaeologists discovered that brain tissue had survived in many of the skulls. The site was originally discovered in 1982 by an operator who was digging in the excavated in the pond THE NATURE TRAIL is a hidden gem. Only two people were found to have been buried in an extended position as we bury our dead today. A network of 160 wells were dug around the pond to lower the water table enough to permit excavation of the peat. [Subsequent radiocarbon dating over the three seasons of excavation indicated ages ranging from 6,990 years to 8,120 years, plus or minus 70 years.] The developers changed their project's plans in order to leave the pond intact and donated $60,000 worth of pumping equipment to drain the pond for excavation. This priceless tissue was preserved in a frozen state for future study. The skeletons were well preserved because of the characteristics of peat. DNA from the brain tissue has been sequenced. It is next to the Atlantic coastal ridge about 5 miles (8 km) from Cape Canaveral. They used bottle gourds for storage, which comprise the earliest evidence for vegetable container storage discovered in North America. One of those, a female about 35 years of age at death, was buried face down and still had remnants of her last meal in her stomach; fish scales and bones, seeds from grasses and berries, and bits of nuts. Animal bones and shells found in the graves indicated that the people ate white-tailed deer, raccoon, opossum, birds, fish and shellfish.[22]. A replica of one of the Windover burials. [6] The buried bones were 6 feet (2 m) or deeper beneath the surface of the peat at the bottom of the pond, under 3 to 10 feet (3.0 m) of water. The Windover Archeological Site is an Early Archaic (6000 to 5000 BC) archaeological site and National Historic Landmark in Brevard County near Titusville, Florida, USA, on the central east coast of the state. Besides the immersive and interpretive "The Windover Pond Story" exhibit, the museum has an extensive collection of other Native American artifacts. Similar stakes were found associated with burials at Bay West, Republic Grove, and Manasota Key Offshore. Wet sites have yielded some of the most spectacular archaeological finds in the world. Robin Brown notes in connection with these underwater burials that many Native American groups have a tradition that spirits of the dead are blocked by water. The occupants of Windover hunted animals, fished, and gathered plants. Windover is a muck pond where skeletal remains of 168 individuals were found buried in the peat at the bottom of the pond. Adults of both sexes exhibited a high incidence of osteoarthritis, which is another continuing problem for humans. Although covering a full extent of 150 hectares the property and its buffer zone comprises eight mounds and two cemeteries – the remainder being buried deep beneath the surrounding agricultural land or the modern village of Harappa. Because the artifacts had been buried in a waterlogged peat soil, when uncovered they were in a remarkable state of preservation. Windover is presently the most extensively characterized wet site with regard to ancient human DNA. From the first day of excavation new skeletal materials were uncovered. Children and teenagers were buried with more grave goods than were adults, indicating the high value placed on children. What is Windover? They were robust and heavily muscled and lived a long time for that period - 65 to 70 years in some cases. The sheriff and medical examiner determined that the burials were not recent. The state of preservation of the brain tissues allowed a determination that the bodies were buried in the peat within 24 to 48 hours after death. The Windover burials are evidence of a people that loved and cared for each of its members, both in life and in death. 483 The small pond known now as the Windover Archeological Site was once a burial spot for prehistoric peoples who could never have guessed that their ritual would end up … Bounded by the Clearlake on one side and the museum on the other the trail takes you through marsh and a subtropical Florida. Children constituted about half the remains. Due to the preservative effects of the peat, archaeologists discovered that brain tissue had survived in as many as 90 of the skulls. PLAN YOUR VISIT A small bone from a bird was intricately patterned with fine, precise lines which were probably made with a shark's tooth as a tool. This may have been done to keep the bodies from floating to the surface, or to protect them from scavengers. Gut contents were found with many of the burials, and we can always learn more about a people when we know what they ate. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Archaeology, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Archaeology on Wikipedia. In 1982, a backhoe driver named Steve Vangerjagt discovered one of the most important archaeological burial sites in North America. Three archaeological “digs” were conducted at Windover between 1984 and 1986. A site currently 21 feet (6.4 m) below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico near Venice, Florida, the Manasota Key Offshore site, was discovered in 2016. [21], Many artifacts that were deposited with the bodies were also preserved. It's unique," said Jessica Crawford, The Archaeological Conservancy's Southeast regional director in Marks, Miss. [18][19] The DNA indicated Asian origin, similar to that of the four other major haplotypes of Native American peoples, and a relatively rare haplogroup, X. Many artifacts made from wood, bone or antler deposited with the bodies were also preserved. The hollow bone may have been used as a whistle. Dec 7, 2015 - Windover Archeological Site (8BR246) in Brevard County, Florida. They turned out to be human bones. The people's teeth were worn down early in life, presumably from sand in food, but very few had cavities. Windover Pond – named after the development — is the site of one of the most significant archaeological finds ever made in North America, an underwater cemetery created by … The skeletons were well preserved because of the characteristics of peat. As his spinal condition almost certainly meant the boy was paralyzed below the waist, this find was important for assessing the society's commitment to ensuring his survival for 15 years in a hunter-gatherer community. This page was last edited on 3 January 2021, at 21:16. WEBSITE: https://myfloridahistory.org/brevardmuseum, page information credit: Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science, University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida Department of Historical Resources, Wikipedia, and previous Trail website content Some stakes were notably larger than others; experts say those bigger stakes may have marked off burial zones. Only half of the pond was excavated, with the remainder left undisturbed for future investigation. The subsequent rise in sea level raised the local water table, and in more recent times the pond has been fed by groundwater as well as rainfall. The skeletons generally lay on their left sides, with their heads west of their pelvises, as if in deference to the setting sun. [3][7][8], The remains found included bones of males and females of all ages from infants to about 60 years, a total of 168 individuals. Archaeologists at this site were able to recover a total of 86 pieces of fabric from 37 graves. The Windover Archeological Site is an Early Archaic (6000 to 5000 BC) archaeological site and National Historic Landmark in Brevard County near Titusville, Florida, USA, on the central east coast of the state. Finds included seeds of wild grapes, elderberries and prickly pear fruit, often in large quantities. [10][11][12], Children and teenagers were buried with more grave goods than were adults, indicating the high value placed on children. Shells found in the graves indicated that the people also ate shellfish, but not in the quantities of later indigenous populations. The site is now an archaeological landmark, protected by Florida Law and the residents surrounding the … Researchers have identified seven different weaves in the fabric. Lumps of greasy, brownish material was found in several skulls when they were opened for examination. Only half of the pond was excavated, with the remainder left undisturbed for future investigation. When a backhoe operator happened to notice a smooth round object in the mud, he went to examine it and was shocked to see … Most were in a fetal position; only three were extended, as we bury our dead today. Several manatee rib "hammers" were uncovered, some with parts of their wooden handles still intact. Volunteer: Underwater Archaeology in Florida. These included seven different textile weaves, which appeared to have been used for clothing, bags, matting, and possibly blankets and ponchos. [23] As recently as 1,500 to 2,000 years ago, bundled, defleshed bones were stored on a wooden platform set in the middle of a pond at Fort Center. The remains rested about halfway down in a 20 foot deep deposit of peat. The Windover Bog Bodies, Among the Greatest Archeological Discoveries Ever Unearthed in the United States. Similar burials occurred at Little Salt Spring 5,200 to 6,800 years ago, Bay West (in Collier County) 5,940 to 6,840 years ago, and Republic Grove (in Hardee County) 5,690 to 6,470 years ago. One of his feet was missing and the stump of his lower leg had healed. Burials are places where archaeologists reasonably expect gendered ideologies and practices to play out in the archaeological record. Most of the faunal remains discovered at the site came from white-tailed deer, but bobcat, manatee, shark, opossum, and turtle were also represented, and point to some of the meats the people consumed. Visit Exhibitions New Research ... Credit: Bureau of Archaeological Research, Florida Department of State ... which is known as the “Windover” site. This and other factors indicate that this was a semi-permanent site. They included bones of males and females of all ages from infants to about 60 years, a total of 168 individuals. Windover is a muck pond where skeletal remains of 168 individuals were found buried in the peat at the bottom of the pond. The work was carried out under the direction of Glen Doran and David Dickel of Florida State University. As his spinal condition almost certainly meant the boy was paralyzed below the waist, this find was important for assessing the society's commitment to ensure his survival. It soon became obvious that this was one of the most intact cemeteries of 6,000 B.C. Some tell the story of the first inhabitants of Florida and the later Seminole people. There are also displays of large animals that were extinct before Windover Pond inhabitants lived in the area. Others had severe skull fractures. They enjoyed being near the water, feeling ocean breezes, and in certain centuries, the warm climate. MUSEUM ADDRESS: At Windover, stakes were driven into the peat through fabrics wrapped around the bodies. An unexpected find was an atlatl "hook" made from deer antler. There were also burials (although not in peat) in the sinkhole at Warm Mineral Springs, dating as much as 12,000 years ago. Want to Visit? A National Historic Landmark, this 61-acre Native American ceremonial site was active and abandoned before Europeans ever arrived in the Western Hemisphere. It is considered one of the most important archeological sites ever excavated. The Windover dig site is a small pond, about .25 acres (1,000 m2) in area, that has held water continuously since sometime between 9000 and 8000 BC. The bodies were buried in clusters, in five or six episodes of short duration that were scattered over a thousand years. Suspecting that this was brain tissue, the researchers sent the intact skulls for X-ray, CAT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which showed recognizable brain structures. Windover is a muck pond where skeletal remains of 168 individuals were … The skeleton of one woman showed that several years before her death she had suffered multiple bone fractures. Some 7,000 - 8,000 years later when a young archaeologist uncovered her tiny remains, the toys, a wooden pestle-shaped object and the carapace of a small turtle, were still cradled in her arms. In addition, cell structures were seen under a microscope. For over 8,000 years, the Windover burials lay undisturbed in an oxygen-free crypt made of peat, as generations of subsequent Native Americans, and eventually Europeans, and other modern Americans, lived out their lives all around them. The average height of adult males was 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm). that had ever been discovered. Regional history and natural science, the story of the Canaveral Lighthouse, and travelling and temporary exhibits are also provided. The stakes may have been used to help hold the bodies underwater. Vanderjagt was working at a site at the shallow pond near Titusville for Jim Swann's ambularnubular (Atlas Obscura User) Georgiana Cemetery, also known as Crooked Mile Cemetery, is one of the oldest graveyards in Brevard County, Florida. Children constituted about half the remains. Normally, bone deteriorates in about 500 to 600 years due to the high acid level of Florida's soil and water. The astounding discoveries that were made attracted international attention. Windover is one of a number of Archaic period sites in Florida with underwater burials in peat. No real human remains are on exhibit. FL Titusville Windover Arch Site marker01.jpg 4,288 × 3,216; 2.69 MB. There were more than 3,000 elderberry seeds in her stomach. [9] Skeletons showed the effects of disease and healed wounds, allowing forensic studies. The six-mound complex is one of the longest continuously occupied sites in Florida. The contemporary addition to the protected archaeological site, on the slopes of Windover Hill near Wilmington, East Sussex, was discovered on … Researchers used a network of 160 wells around the pond to lower the water table enough to permit excavation of the peat. In 1984, with the aid of a grant from the State of Florida, excavation began. These burial rituals are evidence of strong beliefs. The buried bones were 6 feet or deeper beneath the surface of the peat at the bottom of the pond, under 3 to 10 feet of water. A lot of plumbing engineering was implemented in order to drain the pond to allow the excavation, but also to keep the peat layers wet enough to preserve the remains and artifacts. Skeletons included one of a male aged about age 15, who had spina bifida. Windover Pond is one of a number of sites in Florida excavated since 1970 that have led to a major reassessment of the Archaic period in Florida. Workers used shovels and hand tools to remove the peat until the level of the burials was reached. Windover is a muck pond where skeletal remains of 168 individuals were found buried in the peat at the bottom of the pond. Thirty-seven of the graves contained woven fabrics which demonstrate a relatively complex weaving technique and indicate that the bodies had been wrapped for burial. Numerous other artifacts, such as atlatls and projectile points, were also found at Windover. Part Two. All of his bones were found to have been fragile. Healed wounds and one embedded arrow tip indicate some level of violence, but there is also a great deal of evidence that these people loved and cared for their family members. The Windover Archeological Site is a Middle Archaic (6000 to 5000 BC) archaeological site and National Historic Landmark in Brevard County near Titusville, Florida, USA, on the central east coast of the state. 2201 Michigan Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32926 At that time the pond had a relatively thin layer of peat under a thin layer of water. Wentz, Rachel. Most were buried in a flexed position, on their left sides, and with their heads toward the west. Assorted bone tools were also present. The peat in the center of the pond was covered by 6 feet (2 m) of water. Yet only modest progress has been made in teasing out gender from these mortuary contexts. In conclusion windover archaeological site has been a great discovery in 1982. 30 species of edible and/or medicinal plants were identified by paleobotanists; berries and small fruits were particularly important to the community’s diet. They used bottle gourds for storage, which comprise the earliest evidence for vegetable container storage discovered in North America. "Life and Death at Windover:Excavations of a 7,000 Year-Old Pond Cemetery". [20][page needed] The DNA also indicated that one family had used this grave site for over a century. The workers used shovels and hand tools to remove the peat until the level of the burials was reached. Others had severe skull fractures. The burials were staked down in the soft mud of the pond, and over the years at least 168 people were buried there, men, women, and children. When 3-year-old died, her parents placed her favorite toys in her arms, wrapped her in fabric woven from fibers of native plants, and buried her body in the soft, muck bottom of the small pond. Ancient textiles are preserved only by special environmental conditions like that of Windover Pond's peat rich bog. Several were scribed in geometric patterns. Windover Pond has proved to be one of the most important and productive "wet" archaeological sites in the history of the nation. Radiocarbon dating on two bones excavated from the pond by the backhoe, paid for by the developers, yielded dates of 7,210 years and 7,320 years Before Present, establishing the importance of the find. [9], Gut contents were found with many of the burials. Some skeletons showed wounds that were likely the cause of death. Prior to Windover’s discovery, ancient human remains had been uncovered at four others in Florida: Little Salt Springs (Sarasota County), Warm Mineral Springs (Sarasota County), Republic Groves (Hardee County), and Bay West (Collier County). Many were also staked down with wooden poles thrust through the fabric that enshrouded them. DNAfrom th… Over a mile of trails, including a wetland boardwalk, bring you in contact with the same flora and fauna the Native Americans would have encountered. A man named Steve Vanderjagt, was operating the backhoe, and stopped his work when he encountered what was first thought to be large rocks. Excavation at the Windover Archaeological Site occurred from 1984-86. [2], Place in Florida listed on National Register of Historic Places, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "The Windover Archaeological Research Project", Subsistence in the Florida Archaic: The Stable-Isotope and Archaeobotanical Evidence from the Windover Site, Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, History of the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Windover_Archeological_Site&oldid=998107098, National Register of Historic Places in Brevard County, Florida, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox NRHP with governing body, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from October 2018, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Brain tissue has been rated as Start-Class on the two bones taken from the brains of Native Americans inhabited. 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