Turtle Mound
About this property
Turtle Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site located 9 miles (14 km) south of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States, on State Road A1A, between the Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. On September 29, 1970, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today the site is owned and managed by the National Park Service as part of Canaveral National Seashore. A refuse deposit composed mostly of oyster shells, the 2-acre (0.81 ha) mound ranges for over 600 feet (180 m) along the lagoon shoreline and holds over 35,000 cubic yards (27,000 m3) of shells. It is the largest shell midden on the mainland United States, with an approximate height of 35–50 feet (11–15 m), but no extensive excavations have been made. Sparsely vegetated in the early 19th century, it has since been covered by a dense maritime hammock, its primary cover being woody. Along with similar mounds regionally, it is the northernmost outpost of several tropical plant taxa, possibly due to its secluded, elevated, seaside location and to heat retention by shells; a study in 1923 found its flora to be "largely of a tropical character", as did repeated surveys that also spotted rare species. Migratory seabirds, raptors, and other avians frequent the site, likely fostering seed dispersal there. Its peak affords the site a panorama for miles, leading a visitor in 1926 to remark that "one has the sensation of standing on top of a mountain". The statehouse in Eldora and nearby Bethune Beach are observable from its top, along with many other features that set the site apart from other such points in Florida: over 20 mi (32 km) of wild coastline to its south, the lagoon to its west, and the ocean to its east. The mound, dating to between 800 and 1400, contains waste from the Timucua, who caught many reptiles and small mammals here. The Timucua may have used the site as an observatory, for ceremonies, or as a refuge during hurricanes. The Timucua experienced greater competitive forces for finite resources such as arable land resulting in increased open conflict. This is apparent in some of the material found in the Turtle Mound location where it occupied an important location along the coast. Archaeologists have recently found 1,200-year-old pottery on the site. Prior to the late 19th century Turtle Mound was estimated to be 75 feet (23 m) high. Visible 7 mi (11 km) seaward, the mound was used as a landmark by mariners, including Spanish explorers and later navigators. Along with the 12-metre-high (39 ft) Green Mound, Turtle Mound was one of the most visible markers on the Florida east coast before lighthouses were built.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Turtle Mound listed on the National Register?
Turtle Mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1970.
What type of historic resource is Turtle Mound?
Turtle Mound is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Turtle Mound?
The period of significance for Turtle Mound is recorded as the pre_contact era.
Can I research the history near Turtle Mound?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Turtle Mound will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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