New research published in the journal Historical Archaeology confirms Mound Key in Estero Bay was the location of a Spanish fort historians have long-suspected once existed in Southwest Florida. Fort San Antón de Carlos was built in 1566 in the capital of the Calusa, who were the most powerful Native American tribe in the region.
The Spanish only remained at the fort for about three years before the Calusa left, because of tensions caused by the Spanish. We explore the new findings with one of the studies’ authors, and former director of the Randell Research Center on Bokeelia, Dr. William Marquardt.
