5. Mocama Landscaping

Walking on the Trail

By Indigenous Florida

"Aerial View of Sarabay" A painting depicting what a Mocama town would have looked like from an aerial perspective. Source: Warren Anderson, Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida Creator: Rob Hough Date: 2010

The trees, bushes, and plants you see around you as you walk the trail down towards the replica fort are overgrown. In the 1560s this area would have looked more like a carefully landscaped park, with much less underbrush. The Mocamas shaped and designed their environment. Mocama women were the main farmers and foragers of their communities. They nurtured the growth of local plants which they collected during different seasons for food, medicine, and religious ceremonies. They also used organic composting, creating what archaeologists call middens (compost heaps) to make the soil richer and to attract animals.

Audio

Mocama Landscaping Audio Narration This is an audio narration for this stop on the Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour. Source: Department of History, Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida Creator: Savanna Courtney-Durrett Date: 2024

Images

Start of the "French Memorial Trail" A photo showing the location of the beginning of the NPS "French Memorial Trail" at the Fort Caroline National Memorial. Source: Center of Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida Creator: Michael Boyles Date: 2023

French Memorial Trail National Park Service Wayside Display A photo of the "French Memorial Trail" National Park Service wayside display, located at the beginning of the walking route at the Fort Caroline National Memorial. Source: Center for Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida, and the National Park Service Creator: Michael Boyles and the National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial Date: 2023

Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour Map A map displaying the physical locations associated with each tour spot. You are now at Spot 5 at the beginning of the Fort Caroline Memorial Trail. Our path takes you from the Main Parking Lot, past the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center, overlooking the river, along the Fort Caroline Memorial Trail, to the actual replica of Fort Caroline. Source: Center for Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida, and the National Park Service Creator: Michael Boyles and the National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial Date: 2023

Location

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Metadata

Citation Info

“5. Mocama Landscaping,” Indigenous Florida, accessed October 4, 2024, https://indigenousflorida.domains.unf.edu/items/show/39.