St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Jungle Prada Site
Photographed By Tim Fillmon
1. Jungle Prada Site Marker
Inscription.
Jungle Prada Site. . From ca. 1000-1700 CE, the indigenous Tocobaga people inhabited a village whose remnants feature in the Jungle Prada site. Archaeologists hypothesize that a micco (chief) lived in a dwelling atop the 12-foot-high platform mound overlooking the plaza, which may have served as a ceremonial area. A 900-foot-long midden mound contains the refuse of Tocobaga's primary food source, fish and shellfish harvested from the bay, as well as other items that help archaeologists better understand the lifestyle of Florida's indigenous people. Some historians also attribute this general vicinity to the April 12, 1528 landing of conquistador Pánfilio de Narváez's expedition to colonize Florida. Narvaez and 300 men departed on an ill-fated overland trek, of which only four survived. Over the next 8 years, those men walked to the Pacific Ocean in search of rescue, becoming the first Europeans and African to cross North America. Diseases introduced by Spanish expeditions eventually eliminated much of the native population of Florida, the likely reason this village was abandoned. Although most former Tocobaga sites along Boca Ciega Bay were destroyed by urban development in the 20th century, the Jungle Prada remains well-preserved. , A Florida Heritage Site
From ca. 1000-1700 CE, the indigenous Tocobaga people inhabited a village whose remnants feature in the Jungle Prada site. Archaeologists hypothesize that a micco (chief) lived in a dwelling atop the 12-foot-high platform mound overlooking the plaza, which may have served as a ceremonial area. A 900-foot-long midden mound contains the refuse of Tocobaga's primary food source, fish and shellfish harvested from the bay, as well as other items that help archaeologists better understand the lifestyle of Florida's indigenous people. Some historians also attribute this general vicinity to the April 12, 1528 landing of conquistador Pánfilio de Narváez's expedition to colonize Florida. Narvaez and 300 men departed on an ill-fated overland trek, of which only four survived. Over the next 8 years, those men walked to the Pacific Ocean in search of rescue, becoming the first Europeans and African to cross North America. Diseases introduced by Spanish expeditions eventually eliminated much of the native population of Florida, the likely reason this village was abandoned. Although most former Tocobaga sites along Boca Ciega Bay were destroyed by urban development in the 20th century, the Jungle Prada remains well-preserved.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2020 by The Pinellas County Historic Preservation
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Board, the City of St. Petersburg, the Anderson Family, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1128.)
Location. 27° 47.307′ N, 82° 45.16′ W. Marker is in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is at the intersection of Park Street and Elbow Lane North, on the right when traveling south on Park Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Petersburg FL 33710, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 494 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 22, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
