Reflection on Mound House Field Trip

Last week, we went on a tour of the Florida Mound House, located near Fort Myers Beach.  This was one of many sites in Southwest Florida inhabited by the Calusa Indians roughly two thousand years ago.  The Calusa Indians were coastal people who survived by fishing and foraging; they constructed various tools, such as the atlatl, used to launch spears, to aid them in hunting.  The Mound House lies atop a mound of shells which the Calusa Indians constructed over time; we saw a glimpse of the lower part of the mound in an underground room, and learned how they amassed shells in layers, with the older layers generally being lower in the mound, and newer layers being higher.  From what I saw, sustainability was inherently a part of the Calusa Indians' lifestyle; they needed the environment and its resources to support their way of life, so it was important for them to take care of the land as they did.

The strangler fig tree atop the mound.

Mangroves in the surrounding water.

At the top of the mound, there is a house which has seen various owners and developments over the years.  These include the original owner, Robert Gilbert, who built the house; the Case family, for postal service by boat; the James family, who utilized it for scientific research during World War II; and the Long family, who excavated part of the mound to examine its underlying structure.  It is interesting to see the wide variety of people who lived in this house, for purposes that differed in many regards but still relied on the environment.  This, I feel, emphasizes the importance of sustainability: if nature can facilitate such a wide range of endeavors, then surely we have an interest in preserving our environment.

A fireplace inside the Mound House.

I was quite intrigued by the depth of history and culture surrounding this place.  Having a greater awareness of these aspects of the Mound House, I feel, enhances my sense of place of Southwest Florida.  What surprises me most about this place is the fact that it is in such pristine condition, despite how old it is.  It pleases me to know that the general community values this site and makes efforts to conserve it!  (One particular example I saw to support this notion was the "do not touch" signs inside the house.)

References

Chestnut, C. (2015, November 15). Mound House renovated, ready to share stories. Retrieved from https://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2015/11/15/mound-house-renovations-renovated-fort-myers-estero-island-cathy-chestnut-calusa/75828292/

EIHS. (n.d.). Calusa & Mound House - Estero Island Historic Society. Retrieved from http://www.esteroislandhistoricsociety.org/24.html