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244 THE FLORIDA ANTHROPOLOGIST

2006 VOL. 59(3-4)

eer RE Nt CE EN TL

older child and the two deciduous incisors represent a fourth,
younger individual. To determine the maximum MNI, the bone
elements represent as many as three individuals, the two
deciduous teeth represent two individuals, the unworn, open-
apex teeth represent two individuals, teeth with moderate wear
(occlusal attrition) represent one individual, teeth with heavy
wear represent one individual, and molar fragments represent
four individuals, for a total of 13. The highest density ofhuman
remains was located in Units 32, 33, and 64 (Figure 1):

Bone elements

Both the fragmented atlas, in Level 2 of Unit 33, and the
axis, in Level 3 (5.6-6.0 NGVD) of Unit 64, were located in
undisturbed dark black silty-sand midden. It is possible and
likely that the atlas and axis belong to one individual. They are
equally small in size (Table 2), but the bones are fused, which
indicates that they are adolescent in age (Baker et al. 2005:77-
78). It is impossible to narrow down the age range further,
because although the axis is nearly complete, the epiphyses are
eroded off. Two human teeth are also located in this unit.

The mandibular body is partly mineralized and worn,
possibly due to exposure to water. Dimensions are presented in
Table 2. It cannot be determined whether or not it belongs to
the same individual as the other elements, but because of its
state of preservation, and the fact that it was a surface collec-
tion, it is likely that it is derived from a unique individual. It is
possible that it originated elsewhere and washed up on Brickell
Point, or possibly was dredged from the river or bay. Two
alveolar sockets (for the right canine and right first premolar)
are present on the body, but they are so shallow from erosion
that it is impossible to see if any premolars articulate.

The patella was recovered from Trench 7, which was dug
north-south several meters southwest of the Circle excavation.
Nothing further is known about its provenience. The bone is a
complete right patella from an adult. It is gracile in appearance,
without any osteophytes present.

Teeth

Ten teeth were recovered from five different excavation
units in a black dirt midden context within the Miami Circle
feature (Table 1). Only Unit 54 contained two teeth, a maxil-
Jary left first molar (LM’) and a third molar (LM”), in the same
level, which probably belong to one individual. These teeth
were located in Level 3 (~6.0 NGVD) in undisturbed black dirt
midden. Other units contained multiple teeth in various Jevels.
Two premolars, one maxillary and one mandibular, were
recovered in Unit 64 in Levels 1 and 2, respectively. Two
teeth, a molar and an incisor, were excavated from Levels 2 and
4 of Unit 32, respectively (Figure 1). Other teeth are listed in
Table 1.

Two molar teeth were recovered immediately outside the
Miami Circle feature, in a black dirt midden context in Units 1
and 5. The remaining 11 teeth were recovered from excavation
units northwest of the circle feature, from auger tests, from
Depression “V”, from basin “BB”, and from Trench 11 (Unit
3). Two of these teeth, in Units 6 and 8, originated from deep,
undisturbed midden contexts, but the premolar in Unit 3 and a

molar crown fragment in Unit 16 were recovered from dis-
turbed midden.

Of the complete teeth, one molar displays heavy wear
(occlusal attrition), seven display moderate wear, two display
low wear, and one incisor, two mandibular first molars (right
and left), and a mandibular second premolar are unworn (see
Table 2 for wear stages). One tooth had very low levels of
calculus (too low to score), and one exhibited a linear enamel
hypoplasia groove, but in general, the dental health of these
individuals, as interpreted from these few samples, was good.
A parastyle (grade 5 on the Arizona State University system
plaque 24) was observed on the maxillary left third molar
(MDC 605.2) (Hillson 1996:92; Scott and Turner 1997:46) A
detailed dental analysis and a comparison of these teeth to other
prehistoric sites in southern Florida is presented elsewhere
(Elgart-Berry, 2003).

Dental Ages

Six teeth are either deciduous or have not completed
development, and may be assigned a chronological age range
(Table 1). However, the following ages do not indicate the age
at death of the individual, but the age at which the tooth was
separated from the individual. The deciduous mandibular
incisor (131.11) is only 50% complete due to post-mortem loss
of the root. The fully formed, moderately worn crown repre-
sents an individual estimated to be between 3 to 7 (= 24 mos.)
years of age. The deciduous maxillary incisor (2.3) also has a
fully formed, moderately worn crown, but its root is 75%
resorbed. This individual is approximately 4.4 to 7 (+ 24 mos.)
years of age (Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994; Haavikko 1973).
Two first molars (63.1 and 494,11) and a right mandibular
second incisor (500.2) are developmentally complete except
that they have apices that are only half closed. Following
Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994:50), this is dental stage 13
whereas adult is 14. According to Smith (1991), the estimated
age of the first molars are 7.9 to 8.5 years (depending upon
gender), and the estimated age of the incisor is 7.5 to 7.9 years.
One unworn mandibular premolar (633.2) with a half-closed
root apex originated from a juvenile estimated to be 12.8 to
13.5 years of age (Smith, 1991). All remaining teeth and the
four elements represent adults of unknown age.

Interpretation of Remains at the Miami Circle Site

Examining the proveniences of the elements, it is apparent
that there is no cluster of remains representing a grave any-
where in site 8DA12. Most of the remains, with the exception
of the patella, the mandible, and several teeth, were collected in
undisturbed midden contexts. Random, loose teeth are often
found scattered at archaeological sites. At three sites recently
excavated by AHC in Broward County, 71 isolated, loose teeth
were found that had no association with burials (Carr et al.
n.d.). These loose teeth may represent ante-mortem tooth loss,
and are thus non-fatal losses. The elements at 8DA12 are
scattered throughout all levels, from the surface to level 9.
Within the Miami Circle feature, there are more remains in
Levels 2 and 3 than in other levels, but they are not limited to