| Revision as of 22:43, 27 November 2023 editDonald Albury (talk | contribs)Administrators61,979 edits added NRHP infobox for archaeological and historical districtTag: 2017 wikitext editor← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:04, 29 November 2023 edit undoDonald Albury (talk | contribs)Administrators61,979 edits added section on archaeology, sourcesTag: 2017 wikitext editorNext edit → | ||
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| '''Lignumvitae Key''' is an island in the upper ]. | '''Lignumvitae Key''' is an island in the upper ]. | ||
| It is located due north of, and less than one mile from the easternmost tip of ]. The island is the location of the ] and the '''Lignumvitae Key Archeological and Historical District''', and largely overlaps the '''Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve'''. | It is located due north of, and less than one mile from the easternmost tip of ]. The island is the location of the ], the Lignumvitae Key National Natural Landmark, and the '''Lignumvitae Key Archeological and Historical District''', and largely overlaps the '''Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve'''. | ||
| The island has the Keys' highest point above sea level of {{convert|19|ft|m}},<ref>{{cite peakbagger |pid=16832 |name=Lignumvitae Key High Point, Florida}}</ref> which beats the island of ]'s ] by {{convert|1|ft|cm}}. This dark green island is covered in rare ] such as the island's namesake, Holywood Lignum-vitae ('']'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keyshistory.org/lvk.html |first=Jerry |last=Wilkinson |title=History of Lignum Vitae Key |work=Keys Historeum |publisher=Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys |accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref> | The island has the Keys' highest point above sea level of {{convert|19|ft|m}},<ref>{{cite peakbagger |pid=16832 |name=Lignumvitae Key High Point, Florida}}</ref> which beats the island of ]'s ] by {{convert|1|ft|cm}}. This dark green island is covered in rare ] such as the island's namesake, Holywood Lignum-vitae ('']'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keyshistory.org/lvk.html |first=Jerry |last=Wilkinson |title=History of Lignum Vitae Key |work=Keys Historeum |publisher=Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys |accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref> | ||
| ==Archaeology== | |||
| Three features on the island have been assigned ] by the State of Florida: a ] (8MO00013), a stone structure (8MO00014), and a stone wall (8MO00001446), while the island as a whole has received the identifier 8MO00210. The burial mound is {{Convert|30|m|ft}} in diameter, and {{Convert|1|m|ft}} high. Although local belief was that it had been a Spanish structure, it is now presumed to date from the ], which lasted from about 500 BCE until shortly after the arrival of Europeans in Florida.{{Sfn|UMP|2000|p=21}} Archaeologists place the Florida Keys in the ] or Everglades region of the Glades archaeological culture area.{{Sfn|Kessel|2004|p=229}} | |||
| The archaeological record for Lignumvitae Key is limited. The Spanish called the people living in the area in the 16th and 17th centuries "Matecumbes". John Goggin investigated the burial mound, composed of ], in 1940. He described the mound as {{Convert|50|ft}} in diameter and {{Convert|3.5|ft}} high. He noted that the storm surge from the ] had washed over the mound, but the mound was not badly damaged. He observed fragments of human bones on the surface of the mound, but no ]. He was unable to observe a shell mound that had been reported on the island.{{Sfn|Goggin|1944|pp=15, 20}} | |||
| Since Goggin's visit, the burial mound has been investigated by archaeologists in 1962–1963, 1967, and 1970. Those archaeologists reported that the mound had greatly disturbed by ] since Goggin's visit.{{Sfn|Kessel|2004|p=231}} | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Records of the ownership of Lignumvitae Key go back to 1843, including the years of 1919-1953 when the Matheson family of ] owned the island. The island was purchased by Dr. Edwin C. Lunsford, Sr. and two other investors in 1953. Charlotte and Russell Neidhauk lived on the island and served as caretakers during this period. The ] bedrock house they lived in still stands today. On March 2, 1971, Lignum Vitae and nearby Shell Keys were purchased by the State of Florida, and Lignum Vitae became ]. | Records of the ownership of Lignumvitae Key go back to 1843, including the years of 1919-1953 when the Matheson family of ] owned the island. The island was purchased by Dr. Edwin C. Lunsford, Sr. and two other investors in 1953. Charlotte and Russell Neidhauk lived on the island and served as caretakers during this period. The ] bedrock house they lived in still stands today. On March 2, 1971, Lignum Vitae and nearby Shell Keys were purchased by the State of Florida, and Lignum Vitae became ].{{Sfn|UMP|2000|p=A1-1}} | ||
| The key is called '''Cayo de la Leña''' (Spanish for "Firewood Key") on an unsigned Spanish chart of 1760. | The key is called '''Cayo de la Leña''' (Spanish for "Firewood Key") on an unsigned Spanish chart of 1760. | ||
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| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| ==Sources== | |||
| *{{Cite journal |last=Goggin |first=John M. |date=1944 |title=Archaeological Investigations in the Upper Florida Keys |url=https://dpanther.fiu.edu/sobek/content/FI/18/05/09/00/00004/70804_44_02.pdf |journal=Tequesta |volume=4 |pages=13–35 |via=Florida International University Libraries}} | |||
| *{{Cite journal |last=Kessel |first=Morton H. |date=September 2004 |title=Human Skeletal Remains from Lignumvitae Key Burial Mound, Monroe County, Florida |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00027829/00183/images/37 |journal=The Florida Anthropologist |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=229–235 |via=University of Florida Digital Collections}} | |||
| *{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2000 |title=Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Unit Management Plan (UMP) |url=http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/planning/parkplans/LignumvitaeKeyBotanicalStatePark.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703114010/http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/planning/parkplans/LignumvitaeKeyBotanicalStatePark.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2011 |website=Florida Department of Environmental Protection |ref={{SfnRef|UMP2000}}}} | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 03:04, 29 November 2023
Island in the upper Florida Keys, United States House on Lignumvitae Key, December 1977 | |
  Lignumvitae KeyLignumvitae KeyShow map of Florida Lignumvitae KeyLignumvitae Key (Caribbean)Show map of Caribbean | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Florida Keys |
| Coordinates | 24°54′07″N 80°41′56″W / 24.902°N 80.699°W / 24.902; -80.699 |
| Administration | |
 United States | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Monroe |
| Lignumvitae Key Archaeological and Historical District | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Nearest city | Islamorada, Florida |
|---|---|
| NRHP reference No. | 98000652 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1999 |
Lignumvitae Key is an island in the upper Florida Keys.
It is located due north of, and less than one mile from the easternmost tip of Lower Matecumbe Key. The island is the location of the Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, the Lignumvitae Key National Natural Landmark, and the Lignumvitae Key Archeological and Historical District, and largely overlaps the Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve.
The island has the Keys' highest point above sea level of 19 feet (5.8 m), which beats the island of Key West's Solares Hill by 1 foot (30 cm). This dark green island is covered in rare tropical hardwoods such as the island's namesake, Holywood Lignum-vitae (Guaiacum sanctum).
Archaeology
Three features on the island have been assigned archaeological identifiers by the State of Florida: a burial mound (8MO00013), a stone structure (8MO00014), and a stone wall (8MO00001446), while the island as a whole has received the identifier 8MO00210. The burial mound is 30 metres (98 ft) in diameter, and 1 metre (3.3 ft) high. Although local belief was that it had been a Spanish structure, it is now presumed to date from the Glades archaeological culture, which lasted from about 500 BCE until shortly after the arrival of Europeans in Florida. Archaeologists place the Florida Keys in the Tekesta or Everglades region of the Glades archaeological culture area.
The archaeological record for Lignumvitae Key is limited. The Spanish called the people living in the area in the 16th and 17th centuries "Matecumbes". John Goggin investigated the burial mound, composed of coral sand, in 1940. He described the mound as 50 feet (15 m) in diameter and 3.5 feet (1.1 m) high. He noted that the storm surge from the 1935 Labor Day hurricane had washed over the mound, but the mound was not badly damaged. He observed fragments of human bones on the surface of the mound, but no artefacts. He was unable to observe a shell mound that had been reported on the island.
Since Goggin's visit, the burial mound has been investigated by archaeologists in 1962–1963, 1967, and 1970. Those archaeologists reported that the mound had greatly disturbed by archaeological looting since Goggin's visit.
History
Records of the ownership of Lignumvitae Key go back to 1843, including the years of 1919-1953 when the Matheson family of Miami owned the island. The island was purchased by Dr. Edwin C. Lunsford, Sr. and two other investors in 1953. Charlotte and Russell Neidhauk lived on the island and served as caretakers during this period. The coral bedrock house they lived in still stands today. On March 2, 1971, Lignum Vitae and nearby Shell Keys were purchased by the State of Florida, and Lignum Vitae became Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Park.
The key is called Cayo de la Leña (Spanish for "Firewood Key") on an unsigned Spanish chart of 1760.
References
- "Lignumvitae Key High Point, Florida". Peakbagger.com.
- Wilkinson, Jerry. "History of Lignum Vitae Key". Keys Historeum. Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- UMP 2000, p. 21.
- Kessel 2004, p. 229.
- Goggin 1944, pp. 15, 20.
- Kessel 2004, p. 231.
- UMP 2000, p. A1-1.
Sources
- Goggin, John M. (1944). "Archaeological Investigations in the Upper Florida Keys" (PDF). Tequesta. 4: 13–35 – via Florida International University Libraries.
- Kessel, Morton H. (September 2004). "Human Skeletal Remains from Lignumvitae Key Burial Mound, Monroe County, Florida". The Florida Anthropologist. 57 (3): 229–235 – via University of Florida Digital Collections.
- "Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Unit Management Plan (UMP)" (PDF). Florida Department of Environmental Protection. December 19, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2011.
External links
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