THE DURHAM BEAD SITE (8LL1920), NORTH FORT MEYERS, LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA

Photo of beads from the site, greatly magnified, that appeared with an article in Vol. 22-4 of IAM

Some significant questions concerning the age of the beads and the purpose of them at this site remain because no comparable sites with similar beads have been located anywhere in the Southeast. Because of this lack of specific data about the beads and their context, some controversy exists about the function and integrity of the site. However, based on the author’s visit to the site, where he was able to view excavation of the beads in situ by Mr. Durham and Mr. Jackson, the author has no doubt about the integrity of the site and its challenge for accurate chronological and cultural identification.

Location of bead site, see description in text.

Location and Historical Background

This site is located on the west side of Barret Street about one half mile south of the Pine Island Road (78) in North Fort Meyers, Florida. It is situated diagonally across the street from a fire station.

Within an original pine flatwoods setting, this site lies about .25 miles west of Yellow Fever Creek, a tributary of the Calusahatchee River. A springfed sinkhole is reported to have been located just west of the bead site lot.

Presently, the site is occupied by a large home, which was constructed in 1982. Previously, the lot contained a wooden structure that was occupied by an elderly man who lived on the site for many years. Prior to his habitation on the property, an elderly woman is reported to have lived on the site for many years prior to the 1950s. No historical data relating directly to the identity of the beads has been found.

Artifact Concentration and Context
In 1982 a bulldozer was used to clean up the lot and remains of a rotten wooden structure. During this clean up and lot preparation for construction, much of the soil containing beads was pushed around on the lot and onto adjacent lots - where beads have been identified.

The sites original soil is light gray sand. Brown sand fill was apparently brought to the site during preparation for building in 1982. It appears to have become partially mixed with the natural soil and artifacts as a result of bulldozing.

Sample showing glass beads and aluminum bangles as they were found in the earth.

On the approximately half acre lot where most of the beads have been found to be concentrated, they appear to reach a subsurface depth of about 30cm (1 ft.). This concentration is located along the front of the lot, particularly in its south half where much burned wood, melted glass (primarily clear), toy aluminum containers, aluminum bangles, and other apparently early 20th century artifacts have been found. A small quantity of 19th century glass shards, ceramic shards, and machine cut iron nails have also been recovered from this area.

This area also contained clusters of melted glass beads, occurring in a range of colors: red, yellow, blue, etc. These essentially seed bead clumps clearly indicate that bead lots and colors were in some type of separate containers prior to having melted in a fire. Other examples from the area, however, also occasionally contained preserved hemp or cotton string.

The bulk of glass beads are seed sizes and opaque, but bright in color. Several medium size (5-7mm) necklace type beads are included in the assemblage. One of these, an opaque yellow barrel-shaped head with red and green stripes, is unique. Possible 19th century beads include medium sized barrel-shaped brown beads with white and blue stripes, and a small five-sided, faceted, semi-translucent seed size bead.

Mrs. Durham and Jackson gave a sample of beads and aluminum bangles contained within a large dirt sample to the BAR. This sample was carefully taken apart by Dave Dickell and now remains in the states permanent collections (Figure 3).

Dating of the Site
Melted clear glass container fragments and clusters of rosette shaped aluminum bangles associated with melted glass beads from the south half of the bead lot seem to place these artifact types in chronological context. Miniature non-usable coffee grinders and teapots made of sheet aluminum also appear to be part of this assemblage. If this were true, the dating of these beads and artifacts would appear to have occurred after the beginning of the 20th century, most likely during the first quarter of the century.

Though aluminum was discovered as early as 1746, it was not commercially used until 1889, and then it was very expensive. It also remained very costly until well into the 20th century. Its use in the manufacture of bangles and toys was apparently not feasible until the 1920s or later.

Thus, the dating of the Durham Site and its function is not clear. There is a possibility that it was a store or trading post for early 20th century Seminoles. However, no correlation is known between the beads at the site and decorated Seminole clothing. Or, this site may have been a warehouse for the storage of goods sold at shops along U.S. Highway 41 during the days of the Florida land boom in the 1920s and 1930s.

Because of the small quantity of definitive 19th century beads and other artifacts recovered from excavation of the site over a period of years, the author does not believe the site dates to the 19th century. He sees no evidence to support its association with Harney's trading post, which was located in the area near the Calusahatchee Rive during the early 19th century.