Miami Circle Archaeological Site, Miami, Florida

(The information in this section will change as new information comes forth.)

As the Miami Circle apparently struggles back to life again after some months slumber, we scan our daily Miami bugle here for the latest postings. Today (Sat. 10/2/99) is no disappointment, gang:

"Circle deal passed; tribes receive flak for lack of funding" heads up the latest report by the Miami Herald writers covering this beat. Noting that the Miami-Dade Commission unanimously approved a $26.7 million deal for the Circle yesterday - the article records that not one, but two commissioners "...castigated American Indians for not contributing toward the purchase of the archaeological site."

Commissioners Natacha Millan and Javier Souto singled out the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes for criticism, saying both tribes had the financial muscle to make a difference in funding for the deal.

H-m-m-m-m-m-

Maybe it's payback time, folks!

"Where are the people who say this is sacred?" Millan asked. "It does not seem like any of these tribes or the nations have any problems with money." The reference of course, being to the Indians' tax-free windfalls with their many casino and other operations....

As to where are all the people who say this site is sacred - not all of them are Native Person's either, it might be observed. The Dig's Director has been quoted in print as saying (02/11/99) that the site was sacred, "a temple" ... and so too have others. What is most of interest here is that the Commissioners, whatever else may be their shortcomings ("...their comments rankled other commissioners and people in the audience") had the forthrightness to state their convictions and to point where pointing need be done: in the direction of Indians who have been conspicuous at the proceedings here (and at the actual site some time back) but have stopped short of tossing into the kitty, apparently.

In truth, introduction of ethnic differences into this matter of the Circle is to be deplored, but it is a fact-of-life that Indian activists and sympathizers have all but crippled archeological digs, and sequestered and destroyed scientific collections of artifacts almost everywhere in the continental US today and at many other sites in the Americas as well. (Kennewick Man being a prime example of what I mean, should you be in need of a reminder). By what presumption upon "tolerance" does the self-styled Maya Priestess for instance, anymore than a Muslim muezzin deign to intrude as an outsider to our domestic affairs of the Commission where we learn she is still chastising (and chanting) at them? Murky and self-serving "claims" to everything from "rights" to physical possession of the land to somehow being deferred to whenever they choose to mystically and pontifically utter latter-day edicts as to what is "holy" and what is not, and what is "sacred" and what is not hereabouts in our local landscape, is just an all too human ploy to get others to kowtow to foolishness and obfuscation.

Such antics have done nothing to further rational settlement of the future of 8DA12, in my opinion, so it is refreshing to see in the comments of these two commissioners that the wool is never quite pulled over all eyes at once - fortunately.

Mayor Penelas said he was "disappointed" by the low level of private support for donations ( they are looking to be made whole on $26.7 million bucks you know - that's a million bucks per hole here as I pointed out previously with the .7 which maybe could be left for the ...sweepers, do you think?). To make it all happen anyway, the County has just 60 days to raise at least the first $2 million. "Faith moves heavens, but money moves earth," said Commissioner Dorrin Rolle. (Whatever happened to "Faith moving mountains"? When did it start moving...heavens?) Miami: Mother of Mixed Metaphors!.

Of the Native Persons and their casinos, our Godfather Mayor is quoted as adding, "I understand they are making money hand over fist with all these new casinos.... We need to be firm and maybe twist some arms."

"Experts plan 6-week blitz to discover Circle secrets" says a small item itself buried rather mysteriously at the bottom of the Third Section first page in today's (10-01-99) Miami Herald newspaper.

Today we learn that no less than the Governor himself has decreed that "...lingering questions about the authenticity of the Miami Circle..." are to be dispelled by a team of archeologists who will employ "...space age technology and old-fashined muscle power during a six-week scientific blitz of the downtown site."

Mr. Jim Miller, lead archeologist for Florida's Department of State said experts will "...dig hundreds of holes along a checkerboard-type grid to search for additional artifacts in the soft earth and help determine the outlying borders of the archaeological site."

They will use ground penetrating radar to examine underlying bedrock for other structures like the 38-foot-diameter Circle plus more modern disturbances like septic tanks and swimming pools constructed on the site in the 1950's.

Miller got his order direct, because "...the state wants to know what it is buying..." he said.

The work will begin in two weeks, he added.