Velda Mound
Encyclopedia
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.
, approximately . It was last occupied as a village during the period of 1450—1625 by the Apalachee tribe and their ancestors. The Spanish explorers called this area Apalachee Province
in recognition of the tribe's power, a territory which also included Lake Jackson Mound
and major center of Anhaica
. The earthwork
mound is believed to have served as a residence platform mound
for the village leader. It also served as a kind of town hall and gathering place. Domestic residences surrounded the mound. The inhabitants cultivated vegetables in communal farming fields in the area around the village.
Velda Mound was abandoned by indigenous peoples
by the beginning of the Spanish Mission Period (ca. 1565). This was most likely the result of their depleting nearby natural resources, such as trees for building homes and for firewood. The soil may have become depleted as well. The people would move to new lands which were more fertile, and allow older areas to recover. They cultivated numerous varieties of maize
, beans and squash. No evidence exists showing occupation of the mound by the Spanish
or British
colonists.
During the 1950s, the large Velda Dairy operation was developed in much of northern Leon County. Their property for cows and pastureland included the Velda Mound. Looters searching for artifacts
dug into the mound and damaged it by disturbing the interior and altering the structure.
The dairy property was later sold for redevelopment as residences. The mound has since been repaired and is now owned by the state. The mound is located in the Arbor Hill neighborhood within the sub-division
of Killearn Estates.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
site in northern Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Leon County
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...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Once within the extensive Apalachee Province
Apalachee Province
Apalachee Province was the area in the Panhandle of the present-day U.S. state of Florida inhabited by the Native American peoples known as the Apalachee at the time of European contact. The southernmost extent of the Mississippian culture, the Apalachee lived in what is now Leon County, Wakulla...
of the panhandle, the site is now owned by the State of Florida.
History and use
Velda Mound was built during the Fort Walton CultureFort Walton Culture
Fort Walton Culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100~1550 CE....
, approximately . It was last occupied as a village during the period of 1450—1625 by the Apalachee tribe and their ancestors. The Spanish explorers called this area Apalachee Province
Apalachee Province
Apalachee Province was the area in the Panhandle of the present-day U.S. state of Florida inhabited by the Native American peoples known as the Apalachee at the time of European contact. The southernmost extent of the Mississippian culture, the Apalachee lived in what is now Leon County, Wakulla...
in recognition of the tribe's power, a territory which also included Lake Jackson Mound
Lake 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...
and major center of Anhaica
Anhaica
.Anhaica was an Apalachee Indian town and capital of Apalachee Province located near Myers Park in the present-day city of Tallahassee, Florida. Anhaica's population was approximately 30,000. The province had an estimated population of around 60,000...
. The earthwork
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
mound is believed to have served as a residence 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...
for the village leader. It also served as a kind of town hall and gathering place. Domestic residences surrounded the mound. The inhabitants cultivated vegetables in communal farming fields in the area around the village.
Velda Mound was abandoned by indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
by the beginning of the Spanish Mission Period (ca. 1565). This was most likely the result of their depleting nearby natural resources, such as trees for building homes and for firewood. The soil may have become depleted as well. The people would move to new lands which were more fertile, and allow older areas to recover. They cultivated numerous varieties of 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...
, beans and squash. No evidence exists showing occupation of the mound by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
or British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
colonists.
During the 1950s, the large Velda Dairy operation was developed in much of northern Leon County. Their property for cows and pastureland included the Velda Mound. Looters searching for artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
dug into the mound and damaged it by disturbing the interior and altering the structure.
The dairy property was later sold for redevelopment as residences. The mound has since been repaired and is now owned by the state. The mound is located in the Arbor Hill neighborhood within the sub-division
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
of Killearn Estates.
See also
- Fort Walton CultureFort Walton CultureFort Walton Culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100~1550 CE....
- Mississippian cultureMississippian cultureThe 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....