PYRAMIDS IN FLORIDA

Model of Mound Site (A.D. 1200) - Crystal River Museum

PYRAMIDS IN FLORIDA?

It comes as a surprise to many people that there are pyramidal structures in Florida. Along with the structures were an active, intelligent, prosperous and artistic culture trading, building, living and praying around these structures.

Deptford-Swift Creek Period Pottery (200 B.C. - A.D. 300)

EXPANSIVE
TRADE CENTER

Artifacts found at Crystal River suggest that it was part of a major trade route from theYucatan to the Ohio River Area.

ASTROLOGICAL
SITE

Stelae, not normally found in Northern America, are possibly placed here to mark the equinox and soltices making it an astrological site as well.

The Crystal River State Archaeological Site is located north of Tampa on the west coast of Florida. It is a special feature site of archaeological prehistoric significance. The Park and Museum are open seven days a week.

The six-mound complex is believed to have been started by the Indians of the Deptford culture and is considered one of the longest, continually occupied sites in Florida. For 1600 years (200 B.C.- A.D. 1400), the 14-acre site was one of the most imposing prehistoric ceremonial centers on Florida's west coast.

Archaeological investigations began with Clarence B. Moore's excavations in 1903, 1906 and 1917.

CULTURES AT CRYSTAL RIVER

The earliest occupants belonged to the Deptford culture (500 B.C. - A.D. 300). Aquatic food gathering was done by small extended family groups. Maize horticulture is not firmly believed to have been part of their existence. The construction of the early burial mound and a portion of the first temple mound would seem to indicate that the ancient Floridians of this culture were beginning to form some interests in social complexities.

Next were the Weedon Island culture (A.D. 300 - A.D. 900). Noted for an increase in their ceremonialism, involving such things as cremation, the manufacture of burial goods, tomb construction and social status, the Weedon Island culture displayed a growing interest in social awareness. New pottery designs and erection of the stelae appear to be the most notable changes during this time.

The Safety Harbor culture (A.D. 900 to historic contact) began to decline in Crystal River as ceremonialism, organized chiefdoms and maize horticulture increased elsewhere in Florida . Evidence of this culture is found in the small burial mound and further temple mound construction. It appears that the site was abandoned around A.D. 1400.

CRYSTAL RIVER MOUNDS

Two midden mounds (village mounds) are constructed primarily of shell and range in height from 5 to 25 feet. Midden mounds are simply the constant accumulation of indian refuse. Started during the Deptford period, this accumulation continued through the Safety Harbor period (A.D. 1400).

Actually they are the highest areas of a long, irregular-shaped midden ridge and may have been used as a dwelling area, so they may be called village mounds. Excavations gathered shells, fish and animal bones, broken tools and pottery.

First Temple Mound

The first temple mound was originally a large, rectangular, pyramidal, flat-topped mound of earth and midden material approximately 30 feet high. Its base was approx. 182 feet by 100 feet, with a descending ramp approx.80 feet long and 21 feet wide. (The ramp and about two-thirds of the mound were removed by a previous owner.) The ramp and a causeway led northeast to Stele I. Other similar prehistoric temple mounds are found in Florida and are believed to serve as a high platform base for a temple. Charcoal samples show construction around A.D. 600.

Main and Circular Burial Mounds

The main burial mound is a conical-shaped earthen (primarily white sand) mound 20 feet high, with a 70 foot basal diameter. Encircling the mound is a seven foot high burial (ridge) mound with varying widths. Over 400 burials were excavated from the main burial mound and it's estimated there may be 1,000 more burials. There was also found personal possessions, such as jewelry, tools and pottery. The dead were placed in various burial positions. Copper earrings and other artifacts indicated trade with Indians of the Ohio River area. Copper was highly valued because Florida had no working metals.

The circular burial mound (mostly midden material) is six feet high and 75 feet wide and surrounds the main burial mound. More than 25 burials were excavated along with shell drinking cups, ornaments, pendants and a lot of pottery.

Second Temple Mound- S.W. half of mound
and ramp (between trees in foreground)

The second temple mound is a rectangular, pyramidal, flat-topped mound 235 feet long with a ramp. It is completely intact built in the Safety Harbor period and occupied for only 200 years. The material is primarily earth unlike the shell midden of the first temple. The ramp leads directly down to Stele 2 and gives access to the top of the temple mound. Three houses atop the mound contained sacred objects and the priest's paraphernalia.

A smaller burial mound had a shell pathway that led to the ramp of the second temple mound. 30 burials have been excavated and it is estimated to contain 300 more. The mound has been dated from A.D. 1200.

STELE I - Erected about A.D. 440. Offerings of chert chips and food were found here. Note the face carved on the upper center of stone.

Two ceremonial stones called Stelae are the most enigmatic features of the site. It is believed that
these two limestone rocks were deliberately placed in an upright position by the Indians around A.D. 440. There has been speculation that the stones are placed in alignment with the soltice and equinox making it an astronomical site.

Stele I has a human head carved into its surface. A small cache-like deposit of chert (flint-like rock) chips, small animal bones and charcoal were excavated near the base setting of the stone.

Stele II is an undecorated rock that faces to the second temple mound.

SITE INFORMATION


Smoking Pipes	Earspools, Panpipe, Mica,

Exhibits in the Museum include artifacts such as pottery, a stamped clay ball, mica ornaments, projectile points, earspools, quartz crystals, pendants, beads, tools, panpipes, smoking pipes, vessel and pins made from bones, stones, clay, shells etc.

Special thanks to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks for a lot of the above information. For more information contact the Crystal River State Archaeological Site, 3400 N. Museum Point, Crystal River, Fl. 34428-7724 (352)795-3817.

AUTHOR'S OBSERVATION

Archaeologists are finding many worldwide ancient sites that were astronomically aligned.  I became
interested in whether or not this may be true at Crystal River.  The book "Orion Mystery" by Robert
Bauval & Adrian Gilbert demonstrates the correlation of the three Great Pyramids of Giza
aligning with the three stars in the belt of the constellation of Orion.

CRmap.GIF (5297 bytes)

CRorion.GIF (1870 bytes)

CRGiza.GIF (923 bytes)

I overlaid Crystal River's site map (by C. B. Moore -1903) onto the photos in the 'Orion Mystery" 
book.  The layout of the three main mounds on Crystal River's map lined up with the three star 
pattern of Orion's belt and the layout of the Giza pyramids.

Both sites are situated along a river, both are approximately 30 degrees north latitude and
both were known astrological observation sites.  The triangle formed by the layout of  both land 
sites and the stars of Orion have identical angles and proportional sides.