The Miami Circle at Brickell Point Site | |
 Miami Circle Park, 7 March 2011 | |
    | |
| Location | Miami, Florida |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 25°46′10.0914″N 80°11′20.2596″W / 25.769469833°N 80.188961000°W |
| Built | 500 BC – AD 900[2] |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001534[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2002 |
| Designated NHL | January 16, 2009[3] |
The Miami Circle, also known as The Miami River Circle, Brickell Point, or The Miami Circle at Brickell Point Site, is an archaeological site in Brickell, Miami, Florida. It consists of a perfect circle measuring 38 feet (11.5m) of 600 postmolds that contain 24 holes or basins cut into the limestone bedrock, on a coastal spit of land, surrounded by a large number of other 'minor' holes. It predates other known permanent settlements on the East Coast. It is believed to have been the location of a structure, built by the Tequesta (also Tekesta) Indians, in what was possibly their capital. Discovered in 1998, the site is believed to be somewhere between 1,700 and 2,000 years old.
On February 5, 2002, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was declared a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009.[3]
On February 3, 2014, the Miami Herald reported additional postholes had been excavated in Downtown Miami, further indicating presence of ancient habitation.[4]
The state bought the 2.5-acre site for $26.7 million to save the valuable historical artifact.[5] Because of the fragility of the artifact, it was buried again beneath layers of limestone, rather than putting it on display.[6][7]
- ^ "National Register of Historical Places - Florida (FL), Dade County". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. August 17, 2007.
- ^ "Brickell Point Site". Florida Heritage Tourism Interactive Catalog. Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs. August 17, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
- ^ a b "Interior Secretary Kempthorne Designates 9 National Historic Landmarks in 9 States". Department of the Interior. January 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009.
- ^ Viglucci, Andres (February 3, 2014). "Prehistoric village found in downtown Miami". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Drake, Carolina (November 30, 2023). "Miami's little-known Indigenous history". BBC. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "It's time to make Miami's historic national landmark visible". Miami Today. July 26, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "Historic Miami Circle Park closing for an upgrade". Miami Today. May 25, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2023.