The Calusa (said to mean fierce people ) are a Native American tribe that once inhabited the southwestern coast of Florida. The Calusa are said to have been a socially complex and politically powerful tribe, and most of southern Florida was controlled by them.
Additionally, it has been suggested that the population of this tribe may have reached 50000 people at one point of time. The men of the Calusa are recorded to have been powerfully built, and let their hair grow long. Additionally, they had (as their name suggests) a fierce, war-like reputation. When the Spanish explored the coast of Florida, they soon became the targets of the Calusa, and this tribe is said to have been the first one that the explorers wrote home about.
Early Calusa Days
The Calusa are said to have been the descendants of Palaeo-Indians who inhabited Southwest Florida about 12000 years ago. The ancestors of the Calusa are said to have survived by hunting prehistoric animals such as woolly mammoths and giant tortoises, and collecting fruits and other edible plants. At some point of time in their history, this tribe discovered that there was a wealth of fish in the waters, and began to exploit this resource.
It has been proposed that as fishing was a less time-consuming means of obtaining food than hunting and gathering, the Calusa were able to devote more time to other pursuits, such as the establishment of a system of government.
First humans in Florida lived alongside giant animals
When the Spanish arrived in Florida in the early 16 th century, the Calusa were already in possession of a complex centralized government. At the top of the hierarchy was the chief, who had control over the life and death of his subjects, and was believed to have the ability to communicate with the spirits.
By interceding with these spirits, it was believed that the chief was ensuring that his people would be well-supplied by the land. Additionally, it has been pointed out that tribute was sent to this chief from other tribes in south Florida. Directly beneath the chief was the nobility. This class was supported by commoners, who provided them with food and other material goods. Slaves occupy the lowest level in Calusa society.
One illustration of the sophistication of the Calusa can be found in eyewitness accounts of an event in 1566. It is recorded that in that year, the Calusa chief formed an alliance with the Spanish governor, Menéndez de Avilés.
In addition, elaborate rituals with synchronized singing and processions of masked priests were also carried out on that occasion. It has also been stated that the Spanish were brought into a large temple, where they saw carved and painted wooden masks covering its walls.
Despite the social complexity and political might that the Calusa attained, they are said to have eventually went extinct around the end of the 18 th century. One of the causes of this was the raids conducted by rival tribes from Georgia and South Carolina. Many Calusa are said to have been captured and sold as slaves. Furthermore, new diseases such as smallpox and measles were introduced into the area by European explorers. The Calusa, who had no immunity against such illnesses, were wiped out in large numbers. Rare coin hoard worth $1m discovered by treasure hunters off the coast of Florida Juan Ponce de León and his Search for the Fountain of Youth
Although the Calusa came to an end, some remains of their achievements can still be seen today. The shell mounds are an example of these remains. Shells and clay were used by the Calusa to create the foundation of their cities. One example of a shell mound can be found at a site known as Mound Key at Estero Bay in Lee County. This site is believed to have been the capital of the Calusa, as well as its military stronghold and ceremonial center. Apart from that, shells are said to have been used by the Calusa to make all sorts of things, including tools, jewelry, utensils, and even spearheads for fishing and hunting. Hence, the Calusa are sometimes called the ‘Shell People / Indians’.
