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Shell mounds at "Abercrombie Park-St Petersburg, Florida"

While planning our trip to Central-West “Florida”, we learned of an ancient mound site located on the shores of “Boca Ciega Bay” inside “Abercrombie Park.” Reportedly, the Indigenous people inhabiting this area were part of a large village thousands of years ago.  

Arriving in the early afternoon on a beautiful sunshiny yet cold day, I gladly reached for my jacket and zipped up snugly. We noticed the peacefulness of this neighborhood “park” as soon as we entered. And off into the distance, we could see that most of the path featured a canopy of old live oaks, slash pines, cabbage palms, and other trees. Although we had no idea what to expect, we knew that there’s unique value in every Journey of Appreciation where the legacy of First Nation People is being preserved.
 
On the right side of the path, we spotted the rounded elevation that resembled a small mound, so we headed over to get a better look. The mound was covered with grass and was located in an open area amid some tall trees. According to research reports and maps, this mound is identified as a “spoil pile,” and “scattered artifacts” (ceramics and stone tools) were found in areas nearby and piled here. When we checked the dictionary, the word “spoil” is described as ‘material removed from an excavation.’ Hmmm…it was interesting to find out how the mound may have been constructed.

We continued along the pathway and then decided to veer off onto a trail leading to the wetland area. Basically, a wetland is a water saturated lowland region—such as a marsh or swamp—and provides a natural habitat for plants and animals. The area before us was full of lush green sword ferns, saw palmettos, and other vegetative ground cover, as well as many tall pine trees and cabbage palms. We enjoy being in this type environment.

Venturing further along the wooden boardwalk, we made an interesting observation—there were lots of shells and fragments lodged in the dark marshy soil amid the trees and greenery. We paused to acknowledge these ancestral signatures and to recall that the previously mentioned research documents indicated this area also contained numerous artifacts used by Indigenous People during their habitation on this land.

Remaining on the trail, we crossed over a narrow stream or creek that displayed the same assets as observed earlier—again, shells were abundant in the area. Our many journeys have taught us that creeks flow into larger water bodies, where abundant resources are available to sustain all forms of life. The above-referenced reports and maps show that this creek follows a path to the bay and that several “middens” form most of the region leading to the shore, including the beach area. This is exactly what we have learned about Aboriginal and Indigenous Honoring Sites—these locations were consistently chosen to establish mound centers and villages.

We returned to the main pathway which opened into an exhibition of old oak and pine trees with trunks and limbs that showcased their strength and prestige. Some were bending way over (almost parallel to the ground), reaching out to fill distant spaces. Several trees seemed to co-mingle with neighboring trees, creating unique overhead views highlighting masses of beardlike gray moss. By the way, moss plants get nutrients through the air and are not harmful to trees that host them. These aerial plants can be seen all over The Land of Flowers and tend to add a certain charm…especially when swaying gently in the breeze. Indigenous People used moss plants as fiber for creating ropes and blankets, building shelters, and even making medicinal teas. Much of this traditional knowledge is still being utilized today.

We embraced the sun’s warmth as we walked toward the shore for a view of the bay. There’s something about being near water that is so relaxing—I just love it. The shoreline here features a small sandy, shell-filled beach and is bordered by mangroves, which are tropical trees or shrubs that grow in coastal areas and have tangled roots located below and above ground. Once you’ve seen these amazing tree formations, they’re hard to forget. So…if you’re curious about mangroves, this shoreline area provides a good vantage point.

Following is a video description of this journey