2023- 2024 Ais and Calusa Catamaran Project

Israel Mireles

With the assistance of multiple archaeologists and volunteers, we have finally entered the physical stages of the project which will take place at South Fork High School. We aim at doing exactly what the project name suggests, which is recreating a catamaran-like craft used by the Ais and Calusa; to do so just as they would have done. It is through this actualistic archaeology project that we will confirm multiple old theories in aboriginal canoe making and will be testing new theories proposed by myself and others. Additionally after the first dugout canoe has been made; this project will be 100% open to students at South Fork as well as to general members of the public who will be able to participate hands-on in this project. A project such as this has never been attempted, let alone at a high school and we are eager to share this with the public!

Latest Updates

Final Float Test And Location Placement

Hello all, I know it has been a while since I've emailed everyone collectively.

I am not going to lie, the main reason for the delay of me updating y'all has been simply because I've been out doing some cool exploration on Jupiter Island and have been enjoying my last summer as a kid I suppose. Funny how everything ended all at once. I was not supposed to graduate this year, I was supposed to be going to college for anthropology but hey, here we are!

I know many of you were not present at the FAS conference to see the original pictures but, I know many of you have also heard by now that the project is for the most part, completed. It took me a while but it's finally over. I literally floated the canoes on the 8th of May, made the FAS conference presentation on the 9th (and graduated).

In a weird way I'm relieved and saddened that this project is over. Two years is how long this whole thing has taken, I dealt with wayyyyyy more issues about students when it came to dealing with this project, and I thoroughly did not enjoy being outside for 10+ hours fanning a flame on a log. I know this may make the project seem like it was miserable and believe me, it was at times. However, many amazing people in my life, I ended up meeting as a result of this project. Many opportunities and perhaps the reason for my life going the direction it is currently, was all a result of this project. I can't say for sure, if anything I piece together from this whole experiment will actually be as useful in Florida archaeology as I say it will be, nor can I guarantee that anyone would ever even listen to the results of this experiment. I can, however, say this: I do believe that in the end, all that really matters from this project is the community which was built from it and the creation of something that no person has seen for possibly over 300 years.

Both canoes were finished off with modern tools in order to reduce the weight of the canoes. Looking back, if we had more time, and were able to do 24 hour cycle burns then I really do believe that we could have finished both canoes in only 72 hours straight through. The final lashing of the catamaran however was done with aboriginal methods and was not cheated aside from the purchasing of natural (non-synthetic) fiber twine in order to tie the poles together.

I hope to do a farewell get-together when the catamaran (hopefully) is displayed and hopefully be able to do some tool demos along-side it. Stay tuned for a future email about that in the upcoming weeks. This project is mostly done but there is still much to be done. Now I need to of course pull all my notes, research, designs, and everything else in between all together. I hope to do a series of videos and publications for the "final report" of this project. I am excited to see the multiple paths that this project went down, finally come together for everyone to see and have access to.

1st Float Test Down (also free canoe!)

Hello all, it is with great delight that I share with you that we have completed the first float test on our first canoe. The results are somewhat disappointing but it did NOT sink. The canoe remained upright in the water with maybe 3 inches to spare between the gunwales and water line. I believe that the canoe is simply too heavy in the front and back ends so I might just have to suck it up and break out the chainsaw for the last bit of finishing touches.

The only reason why I have to use electrical tools at this stage is simply because i literally GRADUATE in 7 days and have to write up the report for the FAS conference literally the following day. So I don't really have much of a choice. However at this point now, the main purpose is to simply observe flotation principles in the water and how each individual canoe compares to the finished catamaran which will be floated next Tuesday or Wednesday!

I am now left in an extremely odd situation which I suppose is unique only to me. I now find myself with two canoes which will become a catamaran and I wish to use the finished craft as a teaching display of our forgotten history. I will arrange for Mr. Anthony Armato who has graciously volunteered dozens of hours of his time for this project to accept a large bulk of the tools and paddle made for this project. In turn the tools will remain with the school and hopefully be a cool lesson for the history department to share.

The actual canoes and catamaran itself however as well as some of the excess tools I wish to have placed outside of South Fork High School. The public education system from my experience deems archaeology as useless and unworthy of attention except for proving darwin's theory of evolution. Seriously, if I watch the same 2002 documentary from the history channel on the discovery of Lucy in school again, I think I will go insane. The MCSD has also continuously failed to understand the importance of this project and has deemed that painting a picture and making a lego robot is far more progressive for our education than teaching archaeology and prehistory.

My proposal is as such for the final catamaran.

I have decided for four separate locations to be possible contenders for the safe, long-term home of the catamaran.

1. The Elliott Museum/ The Martin County Historical Society

2. The US Sailing Center of Martin County/Indian Riverside Park

3. Jupiter LightHouse

4. Jonathan Dickinson State Park

In turn for safe storage of the canoes, I would also like for SEFAS to remain in charge of their up-keep. Upkeep is simple, every six months the canoes just have to be scrubbed down, checked for rot or sun damage, and revarnished. Wherever they are placed, a series of interpretive signage will be placed alongside them which can detail the catamarans construction and those responsible for it.

If you are affiliated with any of the places listed above, then please reach out to me and we will work together to see what can be done. Furthermore, if you know anyone affiliated with JD or the lighthouse then please send them my way since I believe those are the only two places that aren't in contact with me for this project (despite my numerous emails and phone calls which go unanswered).

Please reach out if you can and enjoy the photos below.

More updates are coming soon!!!