Posted on 05/06/2008 10:48:16 AM PDT by blam
45-Foot Ancient Canoe Stuck In The Muck Of Weedon Island
Tampa Bay Online
updated 3:10 p.m. CT, Mon., May. 5, 2008
By KEITH MORELLI of The Tampa Tribune
ST. PETERSBURG - Stuck somewhere in the muck of Weedon Island is a significant piece of history.
A 45-foot canoe, buried for more than a thousand years and used by a long-dead culture of Native Americans, worked its way to the surface, and now authorities are trying to figure out how best to preserve it.
The vessel is carved out of a single pine tree, and archaeologists say it was used to paddle over the open waters of the bay unlike the other ancient canoes uncovered in Florida over the years, which were used to ply the calmer waters of lakes and rivers.
With the back end of the canoe broken off, it measures 39 feet, 11 inches. If the missing piece was attached, archaeologists estimate 5 more feet would be added to the length. The size of the vessel and configuration of the bow leads archaeologists to think the vessel may have been used to trade with people living some distance away.
"It's the longest prehistoric canoe ever found in the state of Florida," said Weedon Island Preserve Center manager Phyllis Kolianos.
"I think it's fascinating," she said this morning. "I think it's a very important find, and it's very significant. It gives us an understanding that these weren't simple people living here, that they were probably trading with other cultures."
The dugout is the first pre-Columbian seagoing vessel uncovered in Florida. It points to a culture that thrived in what would become the Tampa Bay area and traded with others along the Gulf of Mexico coast and beyond. The influence of the Weedon Island culture
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
GGG Ping.
Stone Age people paddling tree trunks around. Guess it depends on your definition of "simple".
Captain was probably drunk and hit a reef like the Exxon Valdez.
no super glue for repairs.
You ever try to hollow out a 50 foot tree?........
Naw, most likely it was one of the first of the Carnival Cruise Line.
Ewell Gibbons is that you?
Just because they were Stone Age doesn’t mean they were stupid.
Put it back into the muck.
Super glue is OK for small stuff.
But if your canoe needs major repairs, only duct tape will do.
with stone tools no less!
Wouldn’t even make good firewood anymore I guess.
Seriously now; aren’t we taking this idea that everything we find that society threw away a thousand years ago has to somehow be preserved forever....???
Northeast injuns used fire to hollow out tree trunks for canoes....think they’re called “burn out” canoes.
Ain’t THAT hard....just takes some time.
Not to mention cutting it down without killing yourself or anyone in your tribe!...............
Ewell would have chewed it out, swallowing every bite!
"I'm Euell Gibbons many consider me an expert on natural foods like cattails, yes they're edible..."
Glad THAT was not an ingredient in Grape Nuts.
Just because they were Stone Age doesnt mean they were stupid.
My thoughts exactly......
I see two broad categories of cultures: Simple and Advanced. Stone Age people paddling tree trunks would fall into the "simple" category.
Nowadays they hollow out peoples' wallets for casinos.......
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