Seminoles – ArchaeologySRQ

Greetings, I am Coacoochee. My Father, King Philip, told me that I was made of the sands of Florida, and that when I was placed in the ground, the Seminoles would dance and sing around my grave.

Seminoles descend from Indigenous People living in Florida and southern Georgia; today’s state lines were not meaningful until recently. These people migrated to central and southwest Florida in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Some call me Wild Cat, but I was a peace negotiator during the Seminole Wars. We have seen much conflict over Florida's wild lands. The new threat is development, destruction of natural areas, and climate change.

Today we all face new challenges to our shared Florida landscape. Global climate crisis has resulted in rising sea levels, increased number of strong hurricanes, and higher year-round temperatures, which will change the cultural resources landscape. My descendants are providing solutions, I hope the majority listens.

Together we must ensure our traditions are sustained, or the resulting transformations may erase archaeological and historical sites. The tragedies will affect us all for generations to come.

The US military waged three wars in Florida; First (1814-1818), Second (1835-1842), and Third (1855-1858) Seminole Wars, which Seminoles consider one long war against them in their homeland. The Seminoles resisted removal by falling back to the southern tip of Florida, earning the title the "Unconquered People".

Many Florida place-names include "fort", such as Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce yet few realize the names reflect the military forts that started the settlements that grew with the 20th century Florida Dream.

Founded in 1832, Fort Brooke led to Tampa. To cross the Manatee River in the 21st century, some use the Fort Hamer Bridge. Other forts in the Sarasota/Manatee area were Fort Starke, located on the same land of the De Soto National Memorial, and Fort Armistead, (see painting to the left) which was located near today's Ringling Museum.

The three Seminole Wars led to the highest concentration of forts in any US territory in the 19th century. Fort Armistead, is a good example, consisting of a guardhouse, bakehouse, blockhouse, tents, and a hospital which for 1840-1841 grew from 200 to 600 soldiers until abandoned due to health concerns.
(From Sarasota History Alive)

The pioneer families of Sarasota tell of Billy Bowlegs, pronounced Billy Bolek also known by his Seminole name Holata Micco, Alligator Chief.

Mary Wyatt, from the Village of Manatee, was his friend and he visited her at Yellow Bluffs after she married William Whitaker. Around Christmas of 1856, it is said, US soldiers went east and destroyed Billy Bowlegs’ banana grove, sparking the Third Seminole War.

Billy Bowlegs was a fierce warrior but chose to leave for Indian Territory in 1858 to end the war. Other Seminoles stayed in Florida but much further south and inland from Sarasota though the stories out of Manatee tell of the fear its inhabitants had in 1907, fear of another Seminole war breaking out.

Please join us in honoring and acknowledging the Seminole heritage on this land. To learn the Seminole perspective on this history, please see Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum: a place to learn, a place to remember.

Visit AH-TAH-THI-KI MUSEUM

Click to learn about the efforts of the Seminole Tribe of Florida to address climate change at the Heritage and Environment Resources Office (HERO) website.