Turn back now - Public Relation II - evidence that Tequesta Indians placed human heads on stakes - Brief Article

South Florida CEO, Jan, 2003 by James Broida

* Speaking of public relations, the most recent discoveries at the Miami Circle reveal a gruesome detail. Among the objects found by archeologists at the ancient site are two upper neck bones that suggest human decapitation. Combined with other evidence, and accounts written by Spanish missionaries, archeologists now conjecture that Tequesta Indians placed human heads on stakes at the mouth of the Miami River to scare off enemies.

Talk about publicity campaigns! The Miami Circle was discovered in 1998 on the south bank of the river next to Brickell Avenue, when an apartment complex was razed to make room for two luxury high-rises. The county and state bought the site for $26.7 million from developer Michael Baumann -- who bought the land for $8 million and spent $1 million on the project -- to preserve it. Ah death and taxes.