Weeden Island culture
The name for this group of cultures was derived from the Weedon Island site (despite the dissimilar spellings) in Old Tampa Bay in Pinellas County.
[1] Weeden Island cultures are defined by ceramics, which fall into two categories, sometimes called secular and sacred.
The sacred or ceremonial component of Weeden Island developed out of the Hopewell tradition-based Yent and Green Point traditions.
[3] Although the multiple geographic variants of Weeden Island groups used slightly different subsistence strategies dictated by local environment (including small-scale agriculture in some areas), a trend toward the semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer exploitation of hardwood hammock areas and coastal/riverine marine resources accurately characterizes Weeden Island subsistence activities in general.
[5][6] Recent efforts have refined the Weeden Island culture concept so that the term "Weeden Island" includes several distinct regional manifestations which exhibited the same basic ceremonial complex (most likely associated with shared sociopolitical patterns), but that exhibited significant geographic variations.
[7][8][9] Several attempts have been made to segregate Weeden Island components into chronological phases based on temporal changes in settlement patterns, artifact assemblage, and ceremonial activities, all of which recognize an inherent distinction between the material culture of earlier and later Weedon Island manifestations.
Several archaeologists including William Sears indicate "that there was a sharp dichotomy between sacred and the secular" artifacts (particularly ceramics) within the Weeden Island culture, though this pattern has not been observed west of the Aucilla River.
The prevalence of undecorated pottery and the lack of major excavations means that the chronology of the Weeden Island culture in the north peninsular Gulf coast is poorly understood.
Ceramics related to the Swift Creek culture are found scattered at early sites throughout the area, but particularly so in Taylor County, the northernmost part of the region.
Horticulture was absent or a late introduction, although the inhabitants of the southern end of the region (Pasco and Hernando counties) were growing maize at the time of first European contact.
[14] The McKeithen culture is named after a landowner who invited archaeologists to excavate some mounds on his property before vandals destroyed them.
Abundant evidence of occupation was found in a crescent around a presumed plaza, which was essentially bare of artifacts.
The one named (arbitrarily) 'B' had a rectangular building on it that has been interpreted to be a temple or the residence of the priest who conducted ceremonies for the dead.
After a ceramic bird head was pushed into the ground at the foot of the grave, a layer of dirt was spread over all of the mound.
Numerous potsherds and many small fire pits are interpreted as evidence of ceremonies connected with processing the bodies.
At least 17 ceramic vessels, including hollow figurines of animals, were broken and left atop the graves of the bone bundles.
