Miami's ancient Indigenous sites face an uncertain future

"The site at 1809 Brickell Avenue is part of a larger Native American settlement belonging to the Tequesta civilisation, Miami's first people. The site is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because it can provide important information on Tequesta material culture, architecture and subsistence."

"Prehistoric materials recovered by the archaeological team at 1809 Brickell Avenue include traces of fire pits, pottery shards, tools and spearheads, along with bones and shells from animals hunted, fished or consumed by the people who occupied the site. The first study of the site details the discovery of ancient human remains, including those of an infant, that were buried in a formal manner, suggesting the site served as an Indigenous cemetery."

"The development company that bought the land, Related, was founded by Jorge M. Pérez, the billionaire art collector and philanthropist after whom the city's Pérez Art Museum Miami is named. The company already faced public outcry in 2023 after another part of this long-buried Indigenous village was discovered during construction of a luxury hotel and residential project one mile away."

An archaeological site belonging to the Tequesta civilization, Miami's original inhabitants, was discovered during construction of a luxury apartment building at 1809 Brickell Avenue. The site dates back 3,500 years to the Archaic period and contains evidence of a burial settlement with formal interments, including an infant. Recovered materials include fire pits, pottery, tools, spearheads, and animal bones. This discovery marks the second major Tequesta site found during luxury development in the Brickell area, following a similar 2023 discovery one mile away. The site qualifies for National Register of Historic Places listing due to its significance for understanding Tequesta material culture and subsistence patterns. However, Miami's planning office confirmed no designation is currently planned despite the site's archaeological importance.

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