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Res. No. 039-99-10663RESOLUTION NO.39-99-1066 3 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION;STATING THE CITY OF SOUTH MAIMFS RESOLVE TO PRESERVE THE TEQUESTA CIRCLE ON THE MIAMI RIVER;URGING THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONS TO PURCHASE THE SITE AND TO PRESERVE THE PRECIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE CONTAINED AT THE SITE IN PERPETUITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the Tequesta Circle,which is sometimes referred toasthe Miami River Circle,was recently discovered by archeologists onalandsiteatthe mouth of theMiamiRiver following thedemolition of sixapartmentbuildings; and, WHEREAS,Brickell Pointe,Ltd.,the developer of a 600-residential unit development,hassecuredallthebuildingpermitsnecessarytocommence construction of theprojectandhasstatedthatitwilldelayconstructionnolonger; and, WHEREAS,the Tequesta Circle isan historical site of enormous cultural significance: 1.Most of theartifactsindicatethatthesitewasbuiltbytheTequesta Indians,an extinct tribe that once ruled all of Southeast Florida from Boca Raton to Key West. 2.The Tequesta Circle isa prehistoric feature that was created when native Indians cutapattern of circular holesand basins intothe limerock bedrock.Thebasinsare about twofeetdeepandupto five feetlong.The circleis38feetin diameter and contains makings of cardinal directions;a set of holes defines an east-west line with a carving of a human eyeatthe circle's east line;other directions are marked with unusual cutsorrocks placed inholes;a five-foot long shark andtwostoneaxesarelocatedalongthe circle's eastern arc. 3.The Circle is located on the south bank of the Miami River.The site was once the location of the Brickell Trading Post. 4.Pottery types foundattheCircle indicate that thesitewas occupied from about 2,000 yearsagotoabout 1,400 A.D. Additions shown by underlining anddeletions shown by overstriking. Page 2 of Resolution No,39-99-10663 5.Most scholars believe that the Circle was the foundation of a circular structure,possibly a council house ora chiefs house. (www.accesspro.net/dig/home.htm)[App.l]and (www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm, "Archaeologist siftstunningevidence of ancientculture")[App.2]. WHEREAS,the voluntary delayin commencing construction createsa financial hardshipforthe developer andithas indicated thatitwill waitnolonger,butthedeveloperhasindicatedthatitwillconsiderselling thepropertyforfairmarketvalue,includingitsestimatedlostprofit,ifthe sitewillbepreservedinperpetuity.(www. miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/docs/038155.htm,"Circle siteisnot forsale-orisit?")[App.3] WHEREAS,theMayorandCityCommissionbelieveitisinthegreat publicinteresttopreservethe Tequesta Circle in perpetuity andtopaythe developer the fair market value of theland. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA; Section 1.Support the preservation of the Tequesta Circleatthemouth of theMiamiRiverandurgetheCityofMiamiandtheMiami-DadeCounty commissions to purchase thesiteandto preserve the precious cultural heritage contained atthesitein peipetuity. Section 2.This resolution shalltakeeffect immediately upon approval andshallbe delivered totheCity of Miamiandthe Miami-Dade County commissions. PASSEDANDADOPTEDthis 16 day of February 1999. ATTEST:APPROVED: ^M£ZZtZ>v—4<&*7u&z~^—>/••£& CITY CLERK (/MAYOR COMMISSION VOTE:5-0 Mayor Robaina:Yea READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:Vice Mayor Oliveros:Yea Commissioner Feliu:Yea Commissioner Bethel:Yea Commissioner Russell:Yea CfTY ATTORNEY ' \\DELL_6100\Data\EGallop\Csmord-res\Savc theTequestaCircleres.doc Page2 of2 home Page 1 of3 Who Built It? What Where When Why is it?is it? \ e-mail the archaeoligists Who Built It? save the circle Most of the recovered artifacts indicate that the site was built and occupied by the Tequesta,a now extinct tribe that once ruled all of Southeast Florida from the area of Boca Raton southward to Key West and westward through the http://www.accesspro.net/dig/home.htm was it built?was it built? EH^i ^^^•:~.-;S«K meet the team links App.1 2/16/99 home Everglades. What Is it? The Miami River Circle isa prehistoric feature created when Native people cut a pattern of circular holes and basins into the limestone bedrock.These basins are about two feet deep and up tofivefeetlong. Many of the basins have smaller circular postholes cut into their bottom. The circle itself is 38 feet in diameter and has some striking features.First, there appears tobe an intentional marking of the cardinal directions.A set of holes defines an east-west line with a carving ofa human-like eyeat the circle's east line.Other directions are marked with unusual cuts or rocks placed in holes.A five-foot long shark and two stone axes,all suggesting ceremonial offerings,were uncovered along the circle's eastern arc. Where is it? The Miami River Circle is located on the south bank of the mouth of the Miami River.The site was once the location of the Brickell Trading Post, and more recently,the recently demolished Brickell Apartments. When Was It Built? Although no radiocarbon date determinations have yet been made for the Miami River Circle,pottery types indicate that the overall site was occupied from about 2,000 years ago to about 1400 A.D.However,it is not clear when the circle was constructed. Decorated pottery types excavated http://www.accesspro.net/dig/home.htm : Page 2 of3 .••••&' .>.-.-.v •».'t.»:v •••'•..<-i •;•. 2/16/99 home from within the circle's basins are of a tvpe dating from ca.1200 -1400 A.D. Why Was It Built? While some have theorized that the circleisa calendar or some type of "Miami Stonehenge,"most scholars believe that the discovery represents the foundation of a circular structure, perhaps a council house or a chiefs house. Help Save The Circle. Archaeologists are trying to make a cast of the circle or even cut the rock into blocks and move it.It will cost tens of thousands of dollars to complete these tasks.Contributions can be made to the Miami River Circle by sending a donation to the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy,P.O.Box 450283, Miami,Florida 33145. page is not artiliated in anywaywiththeCity of MiamiorDade-County. AllphotosbyJack Lamont.Aerialphoto of circlebyJohnRicisak. http://www.accesspro.net/dig/home.htm Page 3 of3 2/16/99 HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 1 of 6 HERALDLINK SPECIALSECTION •3 Saving the Miami circle Archaeologists sift stunning evidence of ancient culture Thisarticleoriginally appeared inTheHeraldJan.3, 1999 By MARTIN MERZER Herald Senior Writer In the shadow of the Sheraton in downtown Miami,within sight of the Brickell Avenue bridge,scientists andvolunteersarediggingand sifting their way into history inthat rarest of South Florida enterprises:an urban archaeological excavation. This devoted band already hasfounda remarkable 38-foot-diameter...something. Hundredsor thousands of yearsold,formedby stone carvings and post holes,the circular formation near the mouth of the Miami River is stunning evidence of a prehistoric culture. Experts believe it could be the remains of an astronomical observatory orasacredtemple. Afew people believe it could bethefirst solid proof that Central America's renowned Maya civilization gained a toehold in South Florida more than 2,000 yearsago.The archaeologists alsohave uncovered primitiveaxesproducedby Maya or other distant tribes. Others doubt aMaya connection.They believe that Tequesta Indians,indigenous to South Florida,carved the formation into the limestone bedrock more than 500 years ago. Butthe experts allknowthis:Nothinglikethis formation has ever been found in Florida. "We've discovered something substantial,"said Robert Carr,an archaeologist and director of Miami-Dade's Historic Preservation Division. "Something unusual was going onhere." And still is. AIDiaz Click photo to see alarge, close-up view RELATED WEB SITES o Miami Circle «Miami Circle.org o Miami-Dade Parks' Circle NEWS COVERAGE *Stonemason declines job of removing Miami Circle o The holes,the eye,the axes: Mysteries may go unsolved o New Age view focuses on Circle «Mysteries pose dilemma for developer o For government it's history vs.taxes o County mayor suggests buying site «Profile of preservationist Enid Pinkney $Smithsonian curator weighs in o Kids to protest before commission o Circle brings celebrity to App.2 http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 2 of6 Every day,curious laymen —tourists fromlocal hotels,business executives from surrounding skyscrapers,highschoolstudentsonholiday break —are turning outtohelporwatchsun- wrinkled Indiana Joneses. The diggers arrive at sunrise.Theydepart just before sunset.Using shovels and spades,brushes and whisk brooms,they work rapidly as bulldozers loom on the horizon. The immutable clock of development istick- tocking.It'sfour weeks and counting before the developers rollinand build Brickell Pointe,a twin-tower project of apartments,businesses and shops. AlUiaz DISCOVERY:Georges Solomon and Amy Werba find shell and bone fragments. Why? Georges Solomon,a archaeologist *Developer:"No more delays" o Efforts to save circle more urgent as developer refuses to budge COLUMNS AND EDITORIALS Liz Balmaseda: o Circle unites all of Miami *What will our circles say? Carl Hiaasen: *Tequesta grave a sad memory Howard Kleinberg: e Miami has a pattern of bulldozing its history 17-year-old junior at Miami Central High, boardedtheNo.27businNorthMiamioneday last week,then the Metrorail,then the Metromover.Then,he walked a few blocks to the site. Never before involved in archaeology,he ended up sifting shell,bone and artifacts from the dark, densely compacted soil called black dirt midden. "I just wanted to know more about this,"he said. Sodothe experts.A lively academic debate is under way. Mysteries remain What isthis thing?Howoldisit?Who built it?Why? "It's like looking intoa distant,hazy mirror,"Carr said. Whatever itis,itretainsamagneticholdon archaeologists andvisitors. Centuries or millennia after its creation,the formation still seems sacred — partly because of its apparent functionasa temple or astronomical device, partly because ithas survived forsolong,partly because it sits inthe middle of a busy,modern megalopolis. People whonowstephere,stepvery gingerly indeed. http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 3 of6 "Ihearthatalotfrom people —thatthey sense they are walking on sacred ground,"said archaeologist JohnRicisak,thedig'sfield director. "Peoplesaytheyhadnoideathatanythinglike IEMPLF DJ:SIGN:Possible ,,.r ,,•'•<,•.,„J °design for the temple thatthiscouldpossiblyexisthere.may have been on tne site_ The formation was discovered in recent months about four feet below the surface of the2.2-acresite,justeastoftheBrickellAvenuebridge,adjacent totheSheraton Biscayne BayHotelandacrosstheriverfromtheDupont Plaza Hotel. County archaeologists knew thatthe area could hold some secrets.It was primedevelopmentlandlongbeforehumansstartedbuildingskyscrapers. "The mouth of a river isthe place tobe,"Ricisak said."You have access to marine resources,you have a main transportation corridor inland,andit's aesthetically pleasing.It'sa very nice place tolive." It began as routine LU1 i-. |,illI So,as contemporary developers awaited their building permits,Carr, Ricisakandothersbeganaroutinedigthatturneduniqueinahurry. Thecircularformationtheyfoundiscreatedby24irregularlycutbasins, ranging insizefromonetothreefeet.Someexperts believe the basins depicttheshapes of seaturtles,sharks,manatees,shrimpsand other marine animals. v:; AlUiaz EXPERTS:Archaeologist Robert Carr and dig director John Ricisak. Surrounding the basins are more than200post holes laboriously dugin limestone called Miami oolite.Also found on the site were two stone axes made elsewhere and the remains of a five-foot shark deliberately buried in the circle. Particularly intriguing isthis:One elliptical basin sits precisely on the circle's east-west axis.It could be meant to represent a human eye~complete with an inserted rockthatcouldbetheiris~gazing toward the sunrise. Andthis:T.L.Riggs,a professional surveyor who works with Carr and discovered the formation, performed mathematical calculations and predicted that significant post holes would befound 41 feeton either side of the circle's center along the east-west axis. Solitary holes were found exactly where he predicted. Drawing lines fromthesepointstoand beyond the circle,Riggs mapped the http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 4 0f 6 precise outlines of theautumnalequinox(the time whenthesun crosses the equator,making night anddayequalin duration)andthe summer and winter solstices (the northern and southern extremes of the sun's seasonal travel through the sky). 2,000 years old? That and other evidence makes him believe that the structure is an astronomical observatory,calendar and almanac. Andthatitwascreated2,000to3,000yearsagoby Maya,the populous and accomplished tribes of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula,Guatemala,Belizeand other parts of Central America. TheMayawereknownfortheirmastery of astronomical calculations, abstract knowledge and hieroglyphic writing,andthereis some evidence that they roamed closetoFlorida-perhaps even settling inCuba—more than 2,000 years ago. Many of their descendants arealive today in Central America. "TheMayawere obsessed with time,withthepassageoftime,"Riggssaid. "They would record different seasons,when the sun would be at certain points." In addition,the two axes found at the site were made from basalt,a volcanic material not found in Florida.Two very similar axeswerefoundyears agoonthenorthside of theriver.TheMayawere known to use such axes. "There'snootherwaytoexplaintheMayatools foundhereandacrosstheriver,"Riggssaid. Hesaidtheellipticalshapethatcouldrepresenta human eyealsois reminiscent of theMaya symbol for the number zero.artifacts:Ax blades found atthesite. A Yucatan connection? "Mostpeoplepooh-poohthis [Maya connection],butthesepeoplewere completelymarine-oriented,"Riggssaid."Theytraveledinhugecanoes. They easily could have reached here fromthe Yucatan." Riggs,72,hasaspecial feel fortheplace.Heoncelivedin Building 4ofthe six-building Brickell Apartments project thatsatonthesiteuntilitwas demolished last year. "Maybethevibrationscameupandgrabbedme,"Riggssaid. OtherauthoritiesagreethatitistheoreticallypossiblethatMayareached SouthFlorida,buttheysaythereisvirtuallynootherevidencethattheydid. http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 *••ji ,-IUliC HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 5of6 Theaxescouldhavebeenbroughtherebyancienttraders,theysaid. "Idon'tthinkthereisa connection,"Ricisak said."We'venotyet found any evidence thatreallysupportsthattheory.We'restill gathering data.We won't have any answers foratleasta year." Where Riggs sees basins thatlooklike marine animals,Ricisak and Carr see basins,period. "You can see shapes in clouds,too,"Carr said. HeandRicisakthinkthe formation morelikelywascreatedbythe Tequesta, acommunity of about 10,000 peoplewhooncerangedfromnearpresent- day Deerfield Beach toKeyWestand westward through much of the Everglades. Evidence of Tequesta The Tequesta likedtolivenearthemouths of rivers.Theyworshiped animals and the sun.They believed that humans had three souls that resided in their eyes,their reflection and their shadow. The archaeologists havefound pottery shards and other evidence inor near the formation suggestingthattheTequesta occupied thesite500to800 years ago. They believe thatthe formation servedasa temple ora chiefs residence and thatitsundeniableastronomicalalignmentsimplysignifiesitsspecialplace inthe Tequesta scheme of things. "If nothing else,thisshowsthatthe indigenous people of Florida hadthe intellect and the capacity to create this feature,"Carr said."It took alot of hard work." Asdoes decoding whathasbeenfound,andfinding—quickly~whathasn't yet been found. No state law protects such sites unless human remains are discovered,which has not been the case. Something special >sj£-..I Carr and Ricisak said the developer, -i^\'5 -k BrickellPointeLtd.,hasbeengenerousin time and money thus far,and might ^'<_!shoulder thecostofcuttingoutthe I formation inhuge chunks and moving it 'I p.lcp.whprp fnr further QfnHv if tVint nrrwip -:„.'. elsewhere for further study,if that proves feasible. "-•*—'":'._=I The archaeologists hopethatitdoes.They diagram:a blueprint shows the know they have something special here, http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:The Miami Circle Page 6of6 geometry ofthe site.somethingcapable of capturing many imaginations.They hope to employ carbon dating techniques in the nearfuture. "This isa thing to appreciate and consider,"Ricisak said. "For many people in South Florida,thereisasense of rootlessness anda lack of asense of history.Butweknownowthatthereishistoryhere. "When you walk onthis,youare walking on something thatnoonehas walked onfor hundreds orthousands of years." Herald senior writer MartinMerzercanbe reached by e-mail at mmerzer(a)yherald.com @ Copyright ©1996 TheMiami Herald GettingintouchwithHERALDlink http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/index.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:Circle site is not for sale —or is it?Page 1 of4 A ffi Thisis refurbished?WfT\Yes,Dell Refurbished (JjM (same-as-new warranty,too!)^J^ HERALDLINK FULLSTORY Postedat9:18p.m.tS"1Monday,February J. Circle site is not for sale —or is it? By MARTIN MERZER and DON FINEFROCK Herald Staff Writers The developer of adowntownprojectthat endangers theMiami Circle remains resolved to begin construction despite recent setbacks and thehintfromakey financier Monday thatit may be time to consider selling the site,the developer's attorney said. "We are just asstrongasevertoproceed."said A.Vicky Garcia-Toledo.who represents developer Michael Baumann."We arenot willing sellers.The project isnotforsale." On another front,Miami-Dade Mayor Alex PenelassaidhewouldjoinMiamiin "taking on the developer"if theCity Commission votes today to protect the 38-foot-diameter stone carving thathas become alocaland national rallying pointfor preservationists. "They needtobetheoneswhowanttosaveit," Penelassaid of cityofficials."If theymakethat determination,we would unleash all of our resources to make that happen." BuddyHowanitz,assistantbusinessmanager of theSouth Florida Electrical Workers Union, said earlier Monday that Baumann should -and would ~consider selling the valuable siteeast of the Brickell Avenue bridge if someone covers hiscostsand provides asmallprofit. iir-Lhapran SIGNS OF OPPOSITION: From left,Monique Moyer, Tyler Schwartz,Madelyn Moyer and Marina Camacho demonstrate their support. lir~Chapran BELIEVERS:Geeta Constatino,a Mayan Huichol,dances in front of the gate blocking access to the site. "From what Michael said^he's about to pull his .Previous co hair out over this thing,Howanitz said.Every daythat'sdelayed,Michael ispullingmoremoneyoutofhis pocket." The union is one of four that loaned Baumann a total of $8 million in start-up funds forhis Brickell Pointe commercial and residential project alongthe south bank of the Miami River. The recent discovery by archaeologists of the Circle,which experts believe mayhavebeenbuiltbythe Tequesta tribe hundreds or thousands ofyears App.3 http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/docs/038155.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:Circle site is not for sale -or is it?Page 2of4 ago,has severely complicated Baumann's task. "I thinkit's reaching critical mass,"saidHowanitz,whospokewith Baumann on Friday."I don't think anybody,if thesiteiswhatsome people think itis,would wanttoseeit destroyed. "I believe Michael wouldbe amenable to selling if someone gavehima fair profitandofferedtoownthelandforfuture generations." Howanitzestimatedthepriceat$50 million,aguessthatheconcededcould be high. TheCity Commission isscheduledto meet inspecialsessionat 10 a.m. todaytodiscusshowbestto preserve the Circle.Penelas,whohasspokenin general terms of buyingthesitewith public funds,will attend themeeting. "The mainpointisgoingtobetotellthecitythatwewanttobeanactive partner withthem,"themayor said."...Itwouldbeusnotjusttakingonthe developer,but the city aswell." Oneideathatwillsurface:aproposal by City Commissioner Tomas Regaladoto offer Baumannpropertytaxreductions if heredesignshis project to incorporate andprotecttheCircle. In other developments: •Abackhoe that arrived atthesite several days ago wasremoved Monday, apparently by order of a construction subcontractor. Thataction aroused cheersfromdozens of protesterswho—inascene reminiscent of the 1960s ~gathered,chantedslogans,andstageda passionate and peaceful demonstration neartheCircle. "This isn'tjustatemporaryvictory,"saidLance Little Chief McGee of Tallahassee,part of the group of activiststhatmaintaineda24-hourvigil. "We're hoping for complete victory." •Statearchaeologists rebuffed apleafromlocal preservationists and refused to intervene inthecontroversyswirlingaroundtheancientstone carving. JimMiller,lead archaeologist for Florida's Division of Historical Resources, saidstatejurisdiction—verylimitedinscope«canbebasedonlyonthe discovery of humanremains.Asidefromfourhumanteeth,possiblyusedas ornaments or tools by thesite's ancient occupants,no human remains have been foundinorneartheCircle,experts said. ''We're notatapoint yet wherethe evidence shows that human remains exist or even indicatesitstronglyenoughforusto assume jurisdiction,"Miller said. If that discovery is made,Millersaid,theremains would be seized and protected,but construction would soon resume. http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/docs/038155.htm 2/16/99 HeraldLink:Circle site is not for sale —or is it?Pase 3 of4 •Gov.Jeb Bush's office reported receiving 317 phone callsand367 e-mails abouttheCircleinrecent days.A spokesman saidthevastmajority urged the governor to take action to save it. Baumannsaidlastweekthathehasnointentionofsellingtheland.Garcia- Toledo said Baumann met Monday with representatives of the four unions and emerged with their full support. "We're talkingaboutproperty rights,"shesaid."That's thegreatthingabout ourcountry.Everybodycanexpressanopinion,butthedeveloperhasaright to develop." She said Baumann is negotiating with several stonemasons who could slice thecirclefromthelimestonebedrockandmoveit,probablyinmanypieces, toastoragearea.ACoconutGrovestonemasonabruptlyquitthejobSunday night before work began. Garcia-Toledoconcededthat Baumann,describedbysomeasextremely angry over construction delays,was dealing with "a high degree of frustration at this time." Herald staff writer Amy Driscoll contributed tothis report. Herald senior writer MartinMerzercanbe reached by e-mail at mmerzer@herald.com This is refurbished? Copyright ©1999 The Miami Herald Gettingintouchwith HERALDlink http://www.miamiherald.com/archive/miamicircle/docs/038155.htm (sa«e-as-new warranty,too!)^^yY Yes,Dell Refurbished ^K 2/16/99 FEB-18-99 THU 07:33 PM METRO DADE/COMM.FAX NO.305-375-3401 P.01/01 STATEMENT FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MANAGER MERRETT R.STIERHEIM REGARDING INQUIRIES FROM TOP PUBLIC ABOUT THE MIAMI CIRCLE (Miami)February 17,1999 -"The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissionerstodayapprovedcondemnationproceedingsto take controlofa parcel of land nearthe mouth ofthe Miami River from a developer where a significant historical archeological circular formation was discovered in September 1998. Eminent domain procedures involve a judicial proceeding leading toa courtof law deciding the value ofthe land.Parallel tothat process,the Miami- Dade County Board of County Commissioners has instructed the Manager's Office topreparea funding plan to buy the land from the developer.Therehavebeen numerous inquiries from private citizens regarding howtheycancontributeto the effort.I encourage those interested parties to call my office directly at (305) 375-1032 orto transmit via fax any information to (305)375-1262. In addition,the public should be aware thatthe Dade Heritage Trust, Miami-Dade's largest historic preservation nonprofit organization,has established a "Save Our Circle"campaign.Interested Individuals candirectthemselvesto the Trust bycalling (305)358-9572." ### COMMUNICATIONS STEPHEN P.CLARK CENTER •111 NW 1st STREET •SUITE 2510 •MIAMI,FLORIDA 33128-1986 •375-2836 •FAX 375-3968