In the heart of downtown Miami, amidst the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, lies a remarkable archaeological site as a groundbreaking ceremony revealed the ancient Miami Circle, a relic discovered in 1998 during routine ground examination of a high-rise construction site. Known as the Miami Circle and discovered shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, the ancient Miami Circle became for almost 20-years, a battleground between local government, investors and developers, and Native American tribes – among lawyers, experts, archaeologists, and universities. The groundbreaking discovery developed into a fascinating story, as litigation lasted over a decade, before a compromise was reached and a building was finally constructed around the Miami Circle discovery, preserving both the physical remains of the past and the rich tapestry of human history woven throughout the ages, into the present.
The saga begins in the late 1990s when developers broke ground on a prime piece of real estate along the Miami River where the “Dupont Hotel” used to be, at the mouth of the Miami River into the city. As construction crews excavated the site in preparation for the construction of a luxury condominium tower, they stumbled upon an unexpected treasure: a perfectly preserved circle of limestone blocks arranged in a geometric pattern, dating back over 2,000 years to the Tequesta Native American civilization. Recognizing the significance of the find, archaeologists from the county's Historical Preservation Division were called in to assess the site and oversee the delicate process of excavation. What they uncovered was nothing short of extraordinary: a ceremonial complex consisting of the Miami Circle at its center, surrounded by numerous postholes believed to have once supported wooden structures used for rituals and gatherings.
As news of the discovery spread, public interest in the Miami Circle soared, prompting calls for its preservation and protection. In a groundbreaking decision, county officials and developers collaborated to integrate the Miami Circle into the design of a new building, in the land the government ended up buying from Michael Bauman, the original land developer, thereby ensuring its preservation for future generations. The original plans for the condominium tower were scrapped and modified to accommodate the archaeological site, with the building's footprint adjusted to encompass the Miami Circle within its confines. Aside from a portion of the Miami Circle groundbreaking complex being dedicated to condominiums, the building structure also housed the “W” hotel as its first hotel on the premise. Part of the overall design of the gigantic Easter Island lookalike heads, also conveys the height and circular columns widths and separations, as close as possible to the ones discovered embedded in the coral rock beneath. The groundbreaking ceremony of the project that later became known as The Miami Circle, was ironic in that it was taking place precisely over already consecrated ground, and the intended purpose held thousands of years.
After the groundbreaking progressed to construction, the workers were constantly under the watchful eye of archaeologists and local government to ensure the integrity of the city’s arrangement with developers remained intact throughout the building process. Special care was taken to minimize the impact on surrounding artifacts and these were removed from the site and taken to the History Museum of Southern Florida, where some artifacts found during excavations, are displayed. Among these tools were two axe-heads made from basalt, a hard stone that is not indigenous to Florida. The finding of these tools contradicts the theory that the site was occupied by the Tequesta, however, as the volcanic rock is believed to have been from a location in Macon, Georgia - some 600 miles (970 km) away from the site. The mysterious origin of the site has led to its nickname as “America’s Stonehenge”, (though there are a number of sites nicknamed this) and some critics and conspiracy theorists have offered alternative theories. The actual evidence of human involvement still remains under the bedrock and grass, as it was determined for its best protection, since the solution to the building development took priority over the prehistoric relic, the discovery would remain covered.
Today, visitors to downtown Miami can marvel at the Miami Circle from a vantage point within the condominium complex, where it is housed beneath a protective canopy and surrounded by interpretive exhibits detailing its significance. Guided tours offer insight into the history and culture of the Tequesta people, shedding light on their customs, beliefs, and way of life. However, during the litigation process with one of the Native American tribes forced into bankruptcy fighting for the rights to the site as prescribed to all pre-Columbian discoveries, the use of basalt, and the shape of the cylinders do not correspond to any work done with chisels or other rudimentary tools, but instead are smoothly circularly cut. If only we could see the cylinders we would know more!
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