Fort Walton Culture
Encyclopedia
Fort Walton Culture was a mound-building Native American
culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100~1550 CE
.
The indigenous culture was centered near Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
in the Southeastern United States
. The Fort Walton Culture is named for the Fort Walton Mound site near Ft. Walton Beach. This culture was likely influenced by contact with the major Mississippian culture
centers to the north and west, along the Mississippi
and Ohio
river valleys. It was the most important cultural complex in the northwest Florida
region.
settlement patterns that reflected other Mississippian-culture societies. Their intensive maize
agriculture
enabled more dense populations and development of a complex society. They built platform mound
s for ceremonial, political and religious purposes. They made pottery in a variety of vessel shapes.
The Fort Walton peoples are believed to have been the ancestors of the historical Apalachee
who encountered early European explorers and colonists, such as the Hernando de Soto Expedition in 1539.
is the largest known ceremonial center of the Fort Walton culture. It has been classified as part of the Leon-Jefferson Culture
, due to its artifacts' expressing Mississippian culture pottery
traditions of both Apalachee
Fort Walton and Lamar Phase
(from eastern Georgia). It appears that the Lamar Phase-people moved south and assimilated with the Apalachee in this area.
The northwest Florida Region encompasses the Letchworth Mounds
, and Velda Mound
of Jefferson County, as well as the Lake Jackson mounds. The Leon-Jefferson Culture is generally defined as encompassing the Florida Panhandle east from the Chipola River
to the Aucilla River
. Cultural differences were displayed between the inland groups, who relied on the resources of what are now Leon
and Jefferson
counties, and those who used coastal resources.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100~1550 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
.
The indigenous culture was centered near Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
. The Fort Walton Culture is named for the Fort Walton Mound site near Ft. Walton Beach. This culture was likely influenced by contact with the major Mississippian culture
Mississippian culture
The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, varying regionally....
centers to the north and west, along the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
river valleys. It was the most important cultural complex in the northwest Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
region.
History
The Fort Walton peoples had a society with hierarchicalHierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
settlement patterns that reflected other Mississippian-culture societies. Their intensive maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
enabled more dense populations and development of a complex society. They built platform mound
Platform mound
A platform mound is any earthwork or mound intended to support a structure or activity.-Eastern North America:The indigenous peoples of North America built substructure mounds for well over a thousand years starting in the Archaic period and continuing through the Woodland period...
s for ceremonial, political and religious purposes. They made pottery in a variety of vessel shapes.
The Fort Walton peoples are believed to have been the ancestors of the historical Apalachee
Apalachee
The Apalachee are a Native American people who historically lived in the Florida Panhandle, and now live primarily in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Their historical territory was known to the Spanish colonists as the Apalachee Province...
who encountered early European explorers and colonists, such as the Hernando de Soto Expedition in 1539.
Archaeology sites
The Lake Jackson Mounds siteLake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is one of the most important archaeological sites in Florida, a former chiefdom and ceremonial center of the Fort Walton Culture...
is the largest known ceremonial center of the Fort Walton culture. It has been classified as part of the Leon-Jefferson Culture
Leon-Jefferson Culture
The Leon-Jefferson Culture was a mound-building prehistoric Native American culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100–1550 CE...
, due to its artifacts' expressing Mississippian culture pottery
Mississippian culture pottery
Mississippian culture pottery is the ceramic tradition of the Mississippian culture found as artifacts in archaeological sites in the American Midwest and Southeast. It is often characterized by the adoption and use of riverine shell-tempering agents in the clay paste. Shell tempering is one of...
traditions of both Apalachee
Apalachee
The Apalachee are a Native American people who historically lived in the Florida Panhandle, and now live primarily in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Their historical territory was known to the Spanish colonists as the Apalachee Province...
Fort Walton and Lamar Phase
Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument preserves traces of over ten millennia of Southeastern Native American culture, including major earthworks built more than 1,000 years ago by Mississippian culture peoples: the Great Temple and other ceremonial mounds, a burial mound, and defensive trenches...
(from eastern Georgia). It appears that the Lamar Phase-people moved south and assimilated with the Apalachee in this area.
The northwest Florida Region encompasses the Letchworth Mounds
Letchworth Mounds
Letchworth-Love Mounds is a Florida State Park that preserves the state's tallest prehistoric, Native American ceremonial earthwork mound, which is high. It is estimated to have been built 1100 to 1800 years ago. This is one of three major surviving mound complexes in the Florida Panhandle...
, and Velda Mound
Velda Mound
Velda Mound is an archaeological site in northern Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States. Once within the extensive Apalachee Province of the panhandle, the site is now owned by the State of Florida.-History and use:...
of Jefferson County, as well as the Lake Jackson mounds. The Leon-Jefferson Culture is generally defined as encompassing the Florida Panhandle east from the Chipola River
Chipola River
The Chipola River is a tributary of the Apalachicola River in Florida. The river crosses Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf counties. The river flows into the Dead Lakes State Recreation Area just before reaching the Apalachicola. The Dead Lakes were formed when the Apalachicola deposited sand bars...
to the Aucilla River
Aucilla River
The Aucilla River rises close to Thomasville, Georgia, USA, and passes through the Big Bend region of Florida, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachee Bay. The river is long and has a drainage basin of . The Wacissa River is a tributary...
. Cultural differences were displayed between the inland groups, who relied on the resources of what are now Leon
Leon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Florida
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
counties, and those who used coastal resources.