This is the Key Marco Cat, the sculpture is a part human, part cat, wooden carving discovered in 1896 along with many other Calusa Indian Artifacts. However, the Key Marco Cat would be thought of as one of the most captivating of the pieces found during this time. The artifacts found here in Florida date from 300 AD to 1500 AD, this was prior to even European landfall in Florida.
Early 1500’s the Europeans made landfall in Florida and for about two centuries the Calusa Indians put up the best fight they could. However, sometime in the 1700’s the Calusa Indians were deemed extinct; either from having died from diseases brought over by the European’s, being consolidated by the Seminole tribe or made to be slaves by the Europeans.
As for the Sculpture itself, I believe it says a lot about the Calusa tribe that roamed and conquered the lands we all like to call home today. The sculpture shows that these people had a great respect for the nature that surrounds Marco Island and many miles north along both coasts of Florida. South Florida hasn’t been one of the greatest spots in the country for farms and growing food from dirt so it is very likely these people depended greatly on the animals in the water, and the animals on land for food and energy to survive. I believe this to be a part of the reason they designed the sculpture the way they did. Showing that animals and humans are not better than one another but that without them humans surely couldn’t exist in a place like Marco Island back then.
Wealthy Body 