166 THE FLORIDA ANTHROPOLOGIST

Miami Circle

 

Figure 5. Overhead photograph of the Royal Palm Circle feature showing the
concentric rings and its location in relation to the Miami Circle feature. Photo

courtesy of Richard Haiduven.

technology is based on line of sight; therefore, multiple scans
minimize any obscured areas or “shadows” that may occur in
the data (Frei et al. 2000). Two scans were performed from
opposing sides of the Circle, approximately six feet above
ground level, and two others were made from a stabilized
platform 60 feet above the circle feature (Figure 9).

Data from all the scans were integrated into an extraordi-
narily dense, geo-referenced “point cloud” comprised of
millions of x, y, z coordinate positions. Once a scene is cap-
tured at this point density, analysis can take place in a near
‘virtual’ environment, and eliminates the need to return and re-
survey the site in the future. This capability is significant
because the Miami Circle has since been covered with

2006 VOL. 59(3-4)

geotextile and gravel and re-buried. A com-
plete 3D model of the site is available and
allows for continued exploration without the
necessity of uncovering the site again. The
ability to view the Circle in a virtual environ-
ment, or recreate an exact copy is important
from a public involvement standpoint, espe-
cially in light of the various objections raised
to the Circle’s re-burial (Merzer 2003).

The ability to virtually preserve features
was important at the 2005-2006 HDDS pro-
ject across the river at the Royal Palm Circle
feature, where development has proceeded
and preservation did not occur. Similar work-
flow methodologies were used, with target
placement surrounding the circular feature
and excavated surfaces, and laser scan data
were collected from multiple ground based
positions. The need for rapid assessment and
acquisition of HDDS data was imperative at
this feature. High rise construction was en-
croaching and the site was being flooded in
order to keep the construction area dry (Fig-
ure 10). Laser scanning revealed features that
were highly consistent with the Miami Circle
in its size and layout, although basin holes and
cuts were smaller and more ovoid rather than
rectangular, researchers believe the feature is
contemporaneous to the Miami Circle and
may represent a ‘blueprint’ for construction
(Robert S. Carr, personal communication,
2006; Merzer 2005).

Imaging of the laser scan data of the
excavated area showed a series of three con-
centric circles (Figure 11). Comparative
analysis between the circle features on the
north and south sides of the river show nearly
identical spatial layouts, with the radius of the
Miami Circle measuring 18.12 feet, and the
radius of the most distinctive central concen-
tric ring of the Royal Palm Circle at 18.02 feet
(Figure 12). The Miami Circle feature also
contained evidence for an outer concentric
circle (Weisman 2000). These similarities
help to confirm researcher’s hypotheses that
there was a construction typology used by
Southeastern Native Americans for structures such as council
houses, chiefresidences and other similar constructions (Robert
S. Carr, personal communication, 2006; Collins and Wheeler
2006; Merzer 2005; Weisman 2000; Ryan J. Wheeler, personal
communication, 2006).

Post Processing and Data Integration

The initial HDDS post processing steps at both the Miami
Circle and Royal Palm projects involved the 3D laser scan data.
The density of the point cloud (more than 4,000,000 points)
was reduced, to allow for a more manageable analytical dataset
of the carved basin cuts and ancillary holes that comprised the