45-Foot Ancient Canoe Stuck In Muck Of Weedon Island (Tampa Bay)

MSNBC - Tampa Tribune ^ | 5-5-2008 | KEITH MORELLI

[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

[Rebelbase]

Tampa Bay area must have been a paradise back in their day.

[count-your-change]

That’s what the fellow that had 300 cats in his freezers was keeping them for, waiting for his Euell Gibbons Cook Book.

[Soliton]

probably southern yellow pinw

[kaboom]

archaeologists say it was used to paddle over the open waters of the bay

...or it wasn't sea worthy and plunged into the muck minutes after hitting the water. Experts have not ruled out the possibility of it striking an iceberg that drifted south. A result of global warming.

[Beagle8U]

Southern yellow pine = lob-lolly pine. Once dried it is so hard a cat couldn't scratch it.

[fish hawk]

All cultures were simple at their beginnings, even yours.

[Arguendo]

Of course. I'm not saying it's a bad thing.

You don't need to take this personally. It's not an insult, so I don't know why you're making a big deal about it.

[SunkenCiv]

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[ApplegateRanch]

You ever try to hollow out a 50 foot tree?........

with stone tools no less!

Trained beavers. They do the rough work, then the guys with the stone tools do the finishing.

I saw it done on a Looney Tunes documentary.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Dammit, why do we Freepers always have to think of all of the solutions to the word's problems?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast_bomb

If the damn thing was so great then why did it sink?

[Ditto]

I saw it done on a Looney Tunes documentary.

I have also learned so much from them over the years. ;~))

[A Texan]

The canoe is estimated to be only 1,100 years old. When compare to the accomplishments of the Romans, Greeks, Egyptian, Mayans and Chinese (to name just a few) cultures, then I would 100% agree with your classification of “simple”. It’s a 40’ canoe not a 4,000 mile wall or 150 yard tall pyramid.

[Sawdring]

My tribe built Longships and traveled up and down the coasts and rivers looking for silver, slaves, and new lands to settle. They also used what nature had to offer.

[fish hawk]

And a hardy bunch they were. They didn’t invent plundering and rape but they perfected it. LOL