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People of the Dawn
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The Hunters
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NTS014 The Oasis
Not only did they hunt the great animals of paleo-Florida, but they were successful in developing an entire culture based on that resource.
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As the Wisconsin glaciation broke down, it flooded the Mississippi River with icy cold water. I imagine that during the spring and summer floods, the gray turbulent water swelled the river to 100 miles wide, choking it with tumbling ice. The ice carried silt and glacial debris down the Mississippi to be spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. That much cold freshwater must have had a powerful impact on the saltwater estuaries of the Gulf. Changing weather patterns may have added to the environmental stress.
About 9,500 years ago, the weather changed again with sudden glacial spike called the Younger Dryas. It too had powerful effects. The hills of central Florida appear to be sand dunes forned by the winds that blew endlessly during this period.
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NTS015 The Mastadon Kill
Central Florida, circa 14,000 B.P.E.
After a mighty beast like this mastadon was brought down, the women and children moved in to help butcher the animal. A knee-bone made a good grinding tool for a woman's kitchen. A boy is removing the liver from the the cavity of the carcus.
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The drawing of the point to the left is of an ancient design called Clovis. This artifact was found on the east beach (Tampa side) near the Courtney Campbell Causway by artist, Dean Quigley. It is 4" long and about a quarter-of-an-inch thick. It is fluted up from its base. Many points like this have been found in the bay area. The people who produced these points are called the Clovis culture.
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A dart may have been sent on its way by a throwing stick known today as an atlatl.
There is evidence of atlalts in America over 10,000 years old. In Europe, there is evidence that indicates a 30,000 year old date.
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