(Source of picture: Florida State Archives)

This picture of a Timucua village is about 400 years old.  There are at least two things wrong with it:  First, there were no mountains in Florida.  Second, fences or palisades probably didn't surround Timucua villages.  The depiction of an enclosure runs counter to most of the evidence uncovered by historians & archaeologists. 

VISITING A VILLAGE -- Here's a Timucua village at a glance:  Its residents often numbered from 50 to 300 individuals, and they lived in windowless huts that may have stood about 75 feet apart.  These structures were small & round, only about 25 feet in diameter. 

The huts consisted of tree trunks driven into the ground in a circle. The tops of the trunks were probably bent together and tied.  Over this wooden frame, palm fronds were woven into a strong, waterproof cover.  The builders left a  short door on one side & a smoke hole in the roof.  Apparently, no mud or clay was utilized. 

LET'S GO INSIDE -- Lining the inner walls of a hut may've been benches.  These were probably used for sleeping, with animal furs for comfort & warmth.  At night, a small, smoking fire could be lit beneath the benches to try to keep bugs away.  A space inside a hut was also set aside for a cookfire and for the storage of food & personal items.

OTHER STRUCTURES -- A village may have also featured a small temple building.  Other structures could have included storehouses for food and huts for women recovering from childbirth. 

The largest & most impressive building was the Council House, which contained benches that could seat all of the inhabitants.  This round or oval building provided space for ceremonies, meetings, dances, and community celebrations.  Despite what some writers say, there is no evidence that Council Houses were square shaped. 

OUTDOOR LOVERS -- The Timucua preferred to spend most of their time outside.  They usually huddled in huts only at night or during stormy weather. 

A re-creation of a tiny Timucua hut can be found at the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve in Jacksonville.  It's made of palmetto leaves and measures about 12 feet in diameter.  This structure is similar to one that the Timucua once erected for a local Indian leader.  He used it as he watched the construction of France's Fort Caroline. 

The Preserve's hut is smaller than those usually contained in Timucua villages, but it may give a feel for indoor life at the time.  As a visitor enters the little structure, he's struck by how stuffy, dark, & claustrophobic it is.  These feelings are little relieved by a small "skylight" left at the rooftop.  It also seems as if a snake or bug will drop down at any moment.  No wonder the Timucua spent so much time outside!

TIMUCUA DUVAL COUNTY -- There were at least 20 Timucua villages in the area that is now Duval County (Jacksonville).  The Timucua built all of the villages on riverbanks.  The average distance between them was two miles. 

PRIME REAL ESTATE -- Most of the riverside villages sat in maritime hammocks.  These are small forests perched atop ancient sand dunes or shell middens. (Middens are large Native American mounds made of shells, broken pottery, & other refuse). 

Maritime hammocks become established on dunes or middens that are stable enough to support the growth of trees.  Plant species in maritime hammocks include live oak, cabbage palms, wild coffee, coral bean, and several types of ferns. 

The hammocks also bustle with animal life.  They provided homes for tree frogs, squirrels, scrub jays, blue-tailed skinks, song birds, and numerous other creatures. 

Why did the Timucua choose hammocks for their villages?  These locations offer easy access to water.  The sites are also well drained, and they are not often visited by large, destructive fires. 

Unfortunately, few maritime hammocks still survive.  Lumbering stripped many of the old hammocks, and streets & subdivisions cover most of them today.  The prized land of yesteryear has become today's prime real estate.