Introduction of Miami Circle In Florida
1- Archaeological importance of Miami Circle

2- Maintenance of the site archaeological integrity.
Based on these information you will write the introduction :

STATE OVERALL PROBLEM :

The overall problem concerning the Miami Circle was that the developers were trying to build on land with historical
significance. Currently, Miami Circle is in a legal battle with following interested parties; a developer and current owner
of Miami Circle property, Michael Bauman and director for Miami Circle excavation. The developer was seeking to build high-
rise towers and while tearing down an existing complex, the site was discovered. The parties involved were developer Michael
and Bobb Carr, former chief archaeologists and director for Miami Circle excavation. It was through the media contacts that
lead to political and legal action to save the Circle from the grasp of real estate’s executives.
If I win to protect this site, then the Miami circle will provide opportunity for locals to learn more of their history.
This ensures they know where they comes from factually. In addition, Miami Circle will ensure the archaeological integrity
of the site is maintained so its pride. This is a struggle to maintain history from real estate businessmen who find their
way using money without care to the Miami Circle. On the other hand, if I fail to protect this site, the result will be the
death preservation of history of ancient Miami settlers. Miami will lose a site that can be used as tourist destination for
history lovers. Essentially, we would have failed the future generation because we would have nothing to pass to them.
Conclusively, the failure to preserve the Circle will lead to lose of indigenous ceremonial centers.
As a society we need to stand up to these capitalists and show them they cannot have their way just because they have eight
figures bank accounts. On the other hand, although some may argue that losing Miami Circle will create more investment
opportunities. People should care if this site goes or stays for it is part of their heritage and can be used as learning
tools to teach their children about their past.

Argument one : Archeological Importance of Miami Circle
The Miami Circle is an archeological site in the downtown part of Miami Florida. It is a circle measuring 11.5m and
has 24 holes cut into the bedrock. It is believed that the structure was built by the Tequesta Indians and might be 2000
years old. It was declared a national landmark on January 16, 2009. Before the site was discovered it held an apartment
complex. A Private developer by the name of Baumann bought it and wanted to build a condominium. Before doing so,
archeologists following the preservation code requirements found the site while doing a survey of the land. Baumann wanted
the site to be moved elsewhere, but protests from Native Americans, archaeologists, recent immigrants and school going
children protested its removal citing the importance of having such a site that educated the people of their culture and
where they come from in America. They saw the need to keep the site and in this essay we are going to discuss the importance
of Miami Circle as an archeological site.
Archeological evidence suggests that the circle had ceremonial importance to the Tequesta people because of the
shapes of the holes found in the circle and the position. Some seemed to denote where the head of the community sat. Teeth
belonging to extinct species of seals were found, and explorers indicate their consumption was reserved for the elite in the
commonwealth. We see the type of food that was consumed back then and the importance they attached to some of the meals. Over
500 bones and tooth artifacts were discovered. Tools made from deer foot bones, shark teeth and other species that are now
extinct were found. Most of them are tools that would be used on a daily basis in wood carving, leather processing, and bone
working. There is the evidence of goods that might have been exchanged during trading for ornaments or food. Use of leather
shows there was clothing and bone artifacts such as ornaments that were worn. Ceramics found were in the form of undecorated
bowls dating as far back as 1200 AD. They indicate what their women used while preparing meals. Chipped stones were found
which looked like arrow heads, hammer stones, and knives. The stones resembled others found in different sites and indicate
the exchange relationships active back then. The distribution of these stones in the circle also shows the old refuse damping
behavior of the Tequesta. Evidence of Galena shows these people used to make ornaments that were highly prized and exchanged
exclusively between natives in the Midwestern and southeastern parts of the U.S. Here we see their beautification trends and
what they held as significant or expensive. Other artifacts like iron nails, bullet casings, glass bottles, ceramic shards,
and buttons are associated with Seminole Indians who are thought to have visited William Brickell’s store between 1870 and
1900. Pumice which is a frothy glass produced during volcanic eruptions was found, it was believed to have been washed into
the ocean during an eruption or storm and washed up on Florida beaches by ocean currents. Similar pumice artifacts were found
on other sites indicating that the Tequesta exchange networks were active and reached into the interiors of Florida.
Radiocarbon shells found at the site helped in dating, stone tools found were also similar to those in other locations
showing their exchange network was rife. Some of the shell tools found were used to carve large items like canoes and huge
bowls and were located on the banks of rivers. The evidence of zooarchaeology also tells us that they used the tools for
hunting and fishing as well. Bones from turtles, small fish, sharks and snakes tell us of their preferred type of food which
was mostly marine.
The evidence of radioactive carbon deposits helped the archeologists in dating to show what time the Tequesta Indians
inhabited the Miami Circle. The use of bone tools to carve out boats also show evidence that they traveled across water
bodies, and this might have encouraged intermarrying between different cultures. These boats were also used as a means of
transport to carry food they had caught back to their homes.
All these artifacts and the Miami Circle go a long way in showing people their culture and their heritage and how
their ancestors lived. The Circle that is now a tourist attraction has guides that explain the history of the circle and how
it came to be and the importance of keeping the ring intact. People can use it to trace their roots, and where they come from
around the U.S., They are in a better position to understand the history of Miami and its inhabitants. It also shows where
some of their cultures emerged from by learning how their ancestors lived. Learning about it also helps people see the need
to preserve other archeological sites found, and this is evident by the way people came out in their numbers to protest the
construction of a condominium on this land. They were children, archeologists and even Native Americans who have been living
here for long. The laws upholding preservation of such sites has also done a lot in making sure the sites are maintained. By
making sure surveys are done before construction, they can support and register such sites under the national historic sites
registry.

Argument two : Maintenance of the Sites Archaeological Integrity.
Many people including archaeologists have come up disputing the integrity of the Miami Circle. They seem to think
that it might have been as a result of the excavations during installations of a swimming pool and septic tanks used by the
apartment complex residents in the 1950’s. The installation of these structures is thought to have been part of a significant
disturbance in the circle as it was dug into the bedrock. The impact of the apartment’s footings on the integrity of the site
changed across the property. Some foundations cut into the bedrock while others rested on the soil. An auger survey revealed
that the property has 70% iolite limestone formation which is characterized by the holes similar to those of the Miami
Circle. Occasional disturbance to the sites bedrock have been found but have little impact on the integrity of the site.
The site was not found by accident but by the work of the governing laws that were put in place for purposes of
preserving historical sites. In doing that, Brickell point was found to be home to the Miami Circle. Integrity is further
upheld because of artifacts found there which were tools used in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. They show
evidence of having been utilized in the past when there were no knives and hammers, but the use of stone was more prominent.
Sharp stones were used as knives and round stones or rocks used as hammers. The bones found there also tell of the time when
those people lived. Some of the creatures are thought to be extinct by now. It shows the feeding patterns and preferences of
the Tequesta Indians. Some of the stones found also explain eruptions of volcanoes that took place that time and its
particles carried by ocean waves to reach the beaches of Florida.
The stones are old and were found during the Tequesta’s time. The similarity with other sites also goes to show
that it is a reliable site. Tools found here were also found in other locations bearing the same items showing they were
widely used, and exchange of artifacts was done even back then. In a bid to maintain the site the state of Florida restricted
the construction of the condominium. It was registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Archaeologists were
brought to the site to excavate the whole circle and see where it reached. They also maintained the holes in the circle and
the artifacts found were put in the historical museum of Florida. They help in finding out what time in the past the circle
was inhabited by the use of radiocarbon site deposits some dating as far back as 500 BC. There is the use of zoo archaeology
to find out what kind of marine life was present by the use of bones found on the site.
People were also made aware of this site, and they have come out in massive numbers to protest the construction of
buildings on top of the site. It caught the attention of the mayor who played a significant role in ensuring the site was
preserved. Many archaeologists have visited the site to see for themselves this piece that tells of the history of the Miami
people and their descendants. They too have conducted studies to support the theory that the Tequesta people lived here.
Studies of the land have also been done to show how the environmental setting of the earth was before it was inhabited. They
also display the periods of occupation and how each played a part in the disturbance of the bedrock. How building off
previous structures on the land might have caused the formation of the circle. Some think that it was part of a bigger
structure where the holes held poles to make a circular structure with a hole at the top almost resembling a hut. These
claims are refuted by others because there is no evidence of wood remnants in the holes to show what age it was.
Surveys of the constructions done during the time of the Brickell point apartments are also relevant in showing
the antiquity of the Miami Circle. Surveyors checked the materials used to see if there were any deposits of the radiocarbon
stones and soil and found there were traces. It shows that the building was constructed after the Tequesta people had already
excavated the circle.
All these surveys of the soil structure, the black earth madden deposits and the bedrock limestone go into
maintaining the sites archaeological integrity. People have also come up with a website to save the Miami Circle, where
donations can are made and the money forwarded to the Historical Museum to use it for the maintenance of the site. The
donations also promote the circle by making it a tourist attraction and educating people about their heritage and ancestors.
It also shows that here might be other circles in other parts of America showing how people used to live and the interactions
they made that caused the tools to evolve and also their occupation nature to change perhaps introducing the building of
shelters from the circles design.

Preservation of this site and others goes a long way in reminding people of their heritage which is difficult
these days with all the emerging trends and globalization. The laws governing preservation of historic sites is also welcomed
as it stops private developers from destructing historical sites to build business premises.

start with these simple steps…it’ll develop along the way too.
1. what you are doing and why it’s significant

2. your thesis statement (the goal of the entire paper and how you intend to do it)

3.What was I studying?

4. Why was this topic important to investigate?

5.What did we know about this topic before I did this study?

6.How will this study advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding?

SO :
read the overall problem , and the two arguments , then answer the 4 questions above so you can figure the introduction