| This study documents mound construction and subsistence at Big Mound Key, a large American Indian site on the Gulf coast of south-central Florida. Most of this study focuses on one part of the site, the West Mound, a 6 m (20 ft) high flat-topped shell mound. Rim sherds and radiocarbon dating reveal a mixture of materials, some redeposited, that the Indians used to build the mound during the late Weeden Island Period (ca. A.D. 700-1000). Near the top of the mound, post molds, ash lenses, and faunal remains support the interpretation that a structure occupied the central summit.;A large, multilayered pit associated with the summit contained abundant refuse from food consumption and other habitation activities. An excavation strategy that combined taking unscreened samples for later laboratory fine-screening, and using a 1/8 in mesh to screen larger volume samples, recovered abundant plant and faunal remains, and artifacts. Such complementary recovery is a methodological improvement that compensates for biases inherent in samples from small volumes or large-mesh screens, thereby improving data and interpretation.;Examination of the relationship between the number of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa and MNI allows refinements in determining sample size adequacy. Tallies of bony fish elements document the loss of less dense elements. Meat weight estimates indicate that invertebrates comprised a minor portion of animal foods, and that vertebrates comprised the major portion, with bony fish, sea turtle, and deer predominating.;Plant and animal remains support a large site catchment area, and demonstrate intensive use of estuarine resources, supplemented by terrestrial and freshwater resources. Most foods came from habitats within a three to four hour radius, by foot and dugout canoe, from the site. I hypothesize that Indians from a network of surrounding sites helped provide foods eaten on the summit of the West Mound. Big Mound Key has a central location in this network.;Food remains also support elite private consumption and patron-client feasting on the summit of the West Mound. Repeated access to favored foods (deer, sea turtle, snapping turtle, siren, duck, and large fish) is documented. Rarity or absence of remains of some animals (quahog, gopher tortoise, snake, alligator, opossum) suggests that the Indians avoided them as food in this context. |
