The Miami Circle, a national historic landmark often referred to as the city's Stonehenge, has become the center of a heated debate regarding the preservation and future of over a million historical artifacts discovered in Miami's Brickell neighborhood. These artifacts, dating back between 2,000 to 7,000 years, include pottery pieces, tools, and animal bones and teeth. Since their uncovering in archaeological digs that began in 2021, a controversy has arisen over how these relics should be handled and displayed.
Currently stored at Related's office in Brickell, the artifacts have drawn significant interest from the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes. These tribes, feeling betrayed by Related's exploration of relocating the collection to educational institutions far from Miami, are demanding transparency. They await a promised full inventory of items to assess what is considered patrimonial or burial objects.
In 2023, Related broke an agreement with the city of Miami to devise an action plan for preserving and locally displaying significant portions of the collection. The company's founder, Jorge Pérez, pledged to deliver this plan at the next board meeting on March 4, including proposals for exhibition spaces along Brickell's waterfront. However, the tribes allege that Related has missed two deadlines to fulfill these promises.
“What they showed at this last meeting was very disorganized. They’re not speaking with museum curators, they’re not speaking with scholars, they’re not speaking with the archeological community, and most importantly they’re not speaking with the local indigenous population.” – Robert Rosa
The University of Miami (UM) and Florida International University are still waiting for a response to their joint proposal for a conservation and research center in Miami. Meanwhile, the Related Group's approach to out-of-state universities has further inflamed tensions. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the American Indian Movement of Florida advocate for the artifacts' local preservation and display.
“It’s extremely disappointing they would consider farming out the curation of the artifacts to an institution outside of South Florida. Reaching out to other universities and institutions is inappropriate for lots of reasons, but fundamentally it’s about their unwillingness to fund this educational component. It costs money to do this work.” – Robert Rosa
“They said both tribes would be able to go through every artifact so they can determine what is a patrimonial item and a burial item, but that hasn’t happened.” – Robert Rosa
Despite these concerns, Related maintains its position that it is merely exploring available opportunities.
“We were just asking for proposals to see what opportunities are available. This is nothing more than that.” – Iris Escarrá
The proposed action plan is seen as vital by many scholars and locals alike.
“The action plan is the guarantee the public has of access to some of the information from the capital of the Tequesta, the largest indigenous pre-contact settlement in South Florida.” – Traci Ardren
Yet, tribal representatives feel sidelined in the decision-making process.
“They won’t listen to the tribes, to the descendants of the ancestors, that we don’t want the artifacts displayed or shopped around to universities, but put back into the ground.” – Betty Osceola
“From the beginning we understood the importance of that area and how it’s connected to Miami Circle, which is protected, that it’s all interconnected with the sites on the north side of the Miami River as well. But there was some downplay of the significance, [they said] no, it wasn’t connected.” – Betty Osceola
The company plans to link its site with the Miami Circle via an educational pathway known as the Tequesta Trail, which may serve as part of its cultural contribution. However, frustration persists among tribal members who feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.
“Now they realize the connection, they’re acknowledging the significance, but it’s frustrating they didn’t listen to us, not taking credence in what we had to say.” – Betty Osceola