The Treasure Coast and Native Florida Indians

[armchairQB30]

I have been to some museums that have gold and silver artifacts used as headdresses and other ceremonial garb. I have a few questions.

Where do you think they mined this silver and gold living in Florida?

Where are the closest gold and silver mines to Florida?

Does Florida have any gold or silver mines?

Could the indians have come into possession of gold and silver from the treasure coast and melted it down for jewelry?

How did they melt this down to form trinkets and such?

Your comments would be appreciated.

[Mackaydon]

You asked: Where are the closest gold and silver mines to Florida?
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Virginia had/have gold mines.
Sourece: http://www.goldmaps.com/east.html

In the cobwebs of my mind, I seem to recall that in both Cuba and Jamaica there were gold mines.

Don.....

[diggummup]

As far as the Tequestas and the Caloosas go, the gold must have been gotten from the Indians of the nearest gold regions. I'm sure some of it may have come from the wrecks of the Spanish galleons or those of the buccaneers who frequented the coast and as a malleable metal it may have been shaped by hammering. As a rule Indian ornamentation was confined to shells and other easily obtainable trinkets.

[armchairQB30]

I have seen a lot of 3-4 inch round disc's used as ornaments for the head that looks like silver cobs that have been flattened out. They have that blackish tint in some areas but you can tell that they are silver in other areas. Thanks for your replies.

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have been to some museums that have gold and silver artifacts used as headdresses and other ceremonial garb.

I have seen a lot of 3-4 inch round disc's used as ornaments for the head that looks like silver cobs that have been flattened out. They have that blackish tint in some areas but you can tell that they are silver in other areas. Thanks for your replies.

Where have you seen these? What museum? Do you have pics or a link? I would like to see these. Are they South Florida native Indians (Calusa, Ais)?

[Ray S ECenFL]

Don't forget that the Indians also picked up treasue from sunken ships.

Ray S.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Don't forget that the Indians also picked up treasue from sunken ships.

Ray S.

Yes they did, but very few reworked gold and silver has been found. Pegleg found some coins that the Ais Indians tried to rework and showed us. Here is a gold medallion found in Chokoluskee.
http://outside.away.com/outside/maga...96/9610ot.html I would like to see pics of these other Indian "headdresses and other ceremonial garb" and I am awaiting a response from ArmchairQB30.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Pegleg's Indian gold.

[armchairQB30]

I will get some pics taken and post them.

[Bigcypresshunter]

I will get some pics taken and post them.

From the museum?

[Bigcypresshunter]

In the book "Fort Center", an ancient Indian site named after a Seminole War fort, some reworked shipwreck gold and silver was found by William H. Sears that very closely resembles the Chokoluskee find posted.
http://books.google.com/books?id=XeL...miedI#PPA61,M1

[Bigcypresshunter]

Could the indians have come into possession of gold and silver from the treasure coast and melted it down for jewelry?

How did they melt this down to form trinkets and such?

Your comments would be appreciated.

Pegleg also found these near Wabasso that he says was an attempt by the Indians to melt down Spanish silver. The round object is a silver clump melted in a cast iron pan. These were on display at his Expo 2007.

[armchairQB30]

Bigcypress,

That is some awesome information you posted, very interesting. I will be posting some pics shortly. Thanks.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Bigcypress,

That is some awesome information you posted, very interesting. I will be posting some pics shortly. Thanks.

In this hobby we like to share information; maybe I talk too much.

[morbiusandneo]

Bigcypress,

That is some awesome information you posted, very interesting. I will be posting some pics shortly. Thanks.

No, you don't. stvn.

[MoTwister]

At the Expo Pegleg was talking to me about this subject and another man who I didn't know and they were talking about pieces of eight being found on Indian mounds around Sebastian on some kind of island or inlet. Peglet said the mud was terrible to try and reach the spot when the tide was low. I do not know if the pictures you have here are the pieces he was talking about or not.