Re: Did Florida Indians use 'beach gemstones' for decoration?
The Indians might have been primitive but they weren't stupid. They learned that the white man's silver and gold metal had value. There were 3 tribes of Indians who occupied East Florida: Ais, Jeaga and Tequesta. The Ais resided along the area of the Indian River: Brevard, Volusia and Indian River counties, the Jeaga resided below Indian River county in St. Lucie County to Jupiter then the Tequesta to the Keys though the Calusa also occupied the West coast and the Keys as well.
Through Internet surfing I found this tidbit:
History: The Ais Indians were fishermen and gathers so shiny metal would have appealed to them as ornaments and decorations. Later they learned that the Spanish Explorers lusted for their shiny metal even though it had been recovered off sunken and wrecked ships of Spanish, French and Dutch origin.
Most early navigators who touched upon the west coast of Florida must have encountered the Calusa but the first definite appearance of the tribe historically is in connection with shipwrecks of Spanish fleets, particularly the periodical treasure fleet from Mexico, upon the Calusa coast. These catastrophes threw numerous Spanish captives into the hands of the natives and along with them a quantity of gold and silver for which the Calusa shortly became noted.
When first discovered the Calusa were famous for the power of their chiefs, the amount of gold which they had obtained from Spanish treasure ships, and for their addiction to human sacrifice.
Then check page 37 of Weird Florida, By Charlie Carlson, Mark Moran on Florida's Lost Treasure.
Anyone has any ideas of exploring Indian Mounds, you might consider searching the following: The Law and American Indian Grave Protection: Florida Laws.
Those beach gemstones were probably the jewels that came off the wrecked ships and were traded among the different tribes to obtain chert for their arrow and spear points and clay for their pottery. Even the Holly leaves were a trade item for their source of the Black Drink or Indian Coffee.
