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45-Foot Ancient Canoe Stuck In Muck Of Weedon Island (Tampa Bay)
MSNBC - Tampa Tribune ^ | 5-5-2008 | KEITH MORELLI

Posted on 05/06/2008 10:48:16 AM PDT by blam

45-Foot Ancient Canoe Stuck In The Muck Of Weedon Island

Tampa Bay Online
updated 3:10 p.m. CT, Mon., May. 5, 2008
By KEITH MORELLI of The Tampa Tribune

ST. PETERSBURG - Stuck somewhere in the muck of Weedon Island is a significant piece of history.

A 45-foot canoe, buried for more than a thousand years and used by a long-dead culture of Native Americans, worked its way to the surface, and now authorities are trying to figure out how best to preserve it.

The vessel is carved out of a single pine tree, and archaeologists say it was used to paddle over the open waters of the bay — unlike the other ancient canoes uncovered in Florida over the years, which were used to ply the calmer waters of lakes and rivers.

With the back end of the canoe broken off, it measures 39 feet, 11 inches. If the missing piece was attached, archaeologists estimate 5 more feet would be added to the length. The size of the vessel and configuration of the bow leads archaeologists to think the vessel may have been used to trade with people living some distance away.

"It's the longest prehistoric canoe ever found in the state of Florida," said Weedon Island Preserve Center manager Phyllis Kolianos.

"I think it's fascinating," she said this morning. "I think it's a very important find, and it's very significant. It gives us an understanding that these weren't simple people living here, that they were probably trading with other cultures."

The dugout is the first pre-Columbian seagoing vessel uncovered in Florida. It points to a culture that thrived in what would become the Tampa Bay area and traded with others along the Gulf of Mexico coast and beyond. The influence of the Weedon Island culture

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ancient; canoe; florida; godsgravesglyphs; indians
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1 posted on 05/06/2008 10:48:16 AM PDT by blam
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To: SunkenCiv

GGG Ping.


2 posted on 05/06/2008 10:48:44 AM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: blam
these weren't simple people living here

Stone Age people paddling tree trunks around. Guess it depends on your definition of "simple".

3 posted on 05/06/2008 10:51:35 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Et si omnes ego non)
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To: blam

Captain was probably drunk and hit a reef like the Exxon Valdez.

no super glue for repairs.


4 posted on 05/06/2008 10:52:09 AM PDT by wildbill
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To: ClearCase_guy
Guess it depends on your definition of "simple".

You ever try to hollow out a 50 foot tree?........

5 posted on 05/06/2008 10:54:06 AM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: blam
leads archaeologists to think the vessel may have been used to trade with people living some distance away.

Naw, most likely it was one of the first of the Carnival Cruise Line.

6 posted on 05/06/2008 10:55:04 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: Red Badger
You ever try to hollow out a 50 foot tree?........

Ewell Gibbons is that you?

7 posted on 05/06/2008 10:56:39 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Just because they were Stone Age doesn’t mean they were stupid.


8 posted on 05/06/2008 10:57:36 AM PDT by fishtank (Fenced BORDERS, English LANGUAGE, Patriotic CULTURE: A good plan.)
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To: blam
A 45-foot canoe, buried for more than a thousand years and used by a long-dead culture of Native Americans, worked its way to the surface, and now authorities are trying to figure out how best to preserve it.

Put it back into the muck.

9 posted on 05/06/2008 10:58:44 AM PDT by weegee ("I didn't kill innocent people." - Bill Ayers, Weatherman. Terrorist. Obama's comrade.)
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To: wildbill
no super glue for repairs.

Super glue is OK for small stuff.

But if your canoe needs major repairs, only duct tape will do.

10 posted on 05/06/2008 10:58:49 AM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Red Badger
You ever try to hollow out a 50 foot tree?........

with stone tools no less!

11 posted on 05/06/2008 10:59:05 AM PDT by Ditto (Global Warming: The 21st Century's Snake Oil)
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To: blam
If only they had invented the life jacket first these ancient people might still be around.
12 posted on 05/06/2008 10:59:17 AM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: blam

Wouldn’t even make good firewood anymore I guess.

Seriously now; aren’t we taking this idea that everything we find that society threw away a thousand years ago has to somehow be preserved forever....???


13 posted on 05/06/2008 10:59:32 AM PDT by HD1200
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To: Red Badger

Northeast injuns used fire to hollow out tree trunks for canoes....think they’re called “burn out” canoes.

Ain’t THAT hard....just takes some time.


14 posted on 05/06/2008 10:59:39 AM PDT by ElectricStrawberry (27th Infantry Regiment...cut in half during the Clinton years.)
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To: ClearCase_guy; Puppage

Not to mention cutting it down without killing yourself or anyone in your tribe!...............


15 posted on 05/06/2008 11:00:01 AM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Puppage

Ewell would have chewed it out, swallowing every bite!


16 posted on 05/06/2008 11:00:26 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: Puppage

"I'm Euell Gibbons many consider me an expert on natural foods like cattails, yes they're edible..."

Glad THAT was not an ingredient in Grape Nuts.

17 posted on 05/06/2008 11:00:42 AM PDT by weegee ("I didn't kill innocent people." - Bill Ayers, Weatherman. Terrorist. Obama's comrade.)
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To: fishtank

Just because they were Stone Age doesn’t mean they were stupid.

My thoughts exactly......

18 posted on 05/06/2008 11:01:10 AM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: fishtank
I didn't say they were stupid.

I see two broad categories of cultures: Simple and Advanced. Stone Age people paddling tree trunks would fall into the "simple" category.

19 posted on 05/06/2008 11:01:33 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Et si omnes ego non)
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To: ElectricStrawberry
Northeast injuns used fire to hollow out tree trunks for canoes.

Nowadays they hollow out peoples' wallets for casinos.......

20 posted on 05/06/2008 11:02:15 AM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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