Big Mound Key-Boggess Ridge Archeological District

Big Mound Key-Boggess Ridge Archeological District is an archaeological site with four shell mounds arranged in a rectangular formation across about 5 acres near Placida. The mounds rise approximately 20 feet high and are composed primarily of shells and other materials left by indigenous peoples over centuries of occupation.

Indigenous peoples built these mounds around 2000 years ago during the Weeden Island period, an era when established settlements and trade networks developed across the region. Radiocarbon analysis confirms this timeframe and shows continuous use of the site over several centuries.

The site served as a meeting place where different indigenous groups came together to trade and exchange goods. Visitors can observe how the mounds were positioned to create a gathering space that connected distant communities.

The site is located in a rural area and requires personal transportation to visit. Wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain is uneven and you may need to navigate around the mounds to see their layout and composition.

The four mounds are arranged in a pattern that does not match any other known structures from this period, suggesting the builders followed their own architectural ideas. This unusual layout hints that the people here developed distinct construction methods separate from neighboring groups.