Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Miami Miami Circle

Miami Circle

A perfect circle of 24 mysterious holes dates back to prehistoric times.

Miami, Florida

Added By
anhie
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  http://www.miamicircle.org/images/thecircl...
Miami Circle   Ebyabe/CC BY-SA 3.0
The Miami Circle in Downtown Miami.   Marc Averette/CC BY 3.0
  Michael Busch / Atlas Obscura User
  ReubenHull47 / Atlas Obscura User
  http://www.hartford-hwp.com/Tekesta/circle...
  ReubenHull47 / Atlas Obscura User
Miami Circle, located downtown near hotels and high-rises   http://www.pbase.com/floridageologicalsurv...
  michellemobarrett / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
Interpretive board.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
The archaeological park, looking toward Brickell Ave.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
Unused stone axes found on site   http://www.miamicirclesite.com/Artifacts/s...
  michellemobarrett / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Property developer Michael Bauman was in for a real surprise when he purchased a plot of land in downtown Miami in 1998. Bauman's plans for the land were seemingly simple: demolish a 1950-era apartment complex and build a luxury condominium in its place.

During a routine archaeological survey of the site, however, hundreds of mysterious holes were discovered in a layer of Oolitic limestone bedrock and Bauman's development plans immediately came to a halt. Through further investigation, twenty-four of the largest holes comprised a perfect circle, 38 feet (12 m) in diameter, and excavation results found a variety of artifacts ranging from human teeth to ancient tools.

Included in the artifacts were pieces of burnt wood which, after being tested for radiocarbon dating, are believed to be 1800-2000 years old. To date, Miami Circle is the only known evidence in the United States of a prehistoric structure built into bedrock. Evidence from this mysterious prehistoric "footprint" predates other known settlements along the East Coast.

The site is believed to have once been occupied by the Tequesta Indians, a local tribe whose known tools matched some of the shark tooth-related artifacts found during excavation. Theorists have suggested that the holes were structural postholes or part of the foundation for a building. Some believe the building was used for ceremonial purposes, as animal bones and unused tools appeared to be offerings.

Among these tools were two axe-heads made from basalt, a hard stone that is not indigenous to Florida. The finding of these tools contradicts the theory that the site was occupied by the Tequesta, however, as the volcanic rock is believed to have been from a location in Macon, Georgia - some 600 miles (970 km) away from the site.

The mysterious origin of the site has led to its nickname as "America's Stonehenge", (though there are a number of sites nicknamed this) and some critics and conspiracy theorists have offered alternative theories. Aliens, Mayans and septic tanks are among some of the suggested origins for the holes.

The State of Florida eventually purchased the land from Baumann after a series of high-profile disputes between Native American groups, contractors, and historic preservation committees. Miami Circle, otherwise known as Brickell Point or the Miami River Circle, was declared a National Historic Landmark in early 2009 and is currently under a 44-year lease agreement with the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Visitors interested in the history of the Miami Circle can view artifacts on display through the museum's permanent exhibition: "First Arrivals: The Archaeology of Southern Florida."

Currently, the actual post holes composing the Miami circle are covered with sod and flagstones, to preserve the site. Visitors can still see the limestone perimeter, but the actual evidence of human construction is currently under several inches of soil and grass. Still, perimeter, and the placards on site allow visitors to contemplate the fact that our species has conducted business and life around the Bay for thousands of years.

Related Tags

Lost Tribes Long Now Locations Ruins

Community Contributors

Added By

anhie

Edited By

lrt228, rugby007, bill 15aba2a4, Meg...

  • lrt228
  • rugby007
  • bill 15aba2a4
  • Meg
  • Michael Busch
  • ReubenHull47
  • hibbibi
  • michellemobarrett
  • Runawaydc

Published

January 19, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.miamicirclesite.com/
  • http://www.bwpowell.com/archeology/miamimajor/miamimajor.html
  • http://www.miamicircle.org
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Circle
Miami Circle
401 Brickell Avenue
Miami, Florida, 33131
United States
25.769381, -80.189919
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mary Brickell Park & Mausoleum

Miami, Florida

miles away

Miami City Cemetery

Miami, Florida

miles away

Bobblehead Museum

Miami, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Miami

Miami

Florida

Places 22
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Mary Brickell Park & Mausoleum

Miami, Florida

miles away

Miami City Cemetery

Miami, Florida

miles away

Bobblehead Museum

Miami, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Miami

Miami

Florida

Places 22
Stories 4

Related Stories and Lists

39 Places That Will Warp Your Perspective of Time

List

By Molly McBride Jacobson

The Best of Weird Florida

List

By Molly McBride Jacobson

10 Archaeological Mysteries of the United States

ancient

By Kimberly Wadsworth

Related Places

  • Machu Picchu.

    Aguas Calientes, Peru

    Machu Picchu: The Lost City of The Inca

    The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu serves as a testament to Incan engineers.

  • Skara Brae is on the west coast of Scotland.

    Sandwick, Scotland

    Skara Brae

    Amazing and mysterious Neolithic settlement on Scotland's Orkney Islands.

  • Gobekli Tepe

    Örencik, Turkey

    Gobekli Tepe

    This hunter-gatherer architecture is believed to be the oldest religious complex known.

  • Rapa Nui, Chile

    "El Gigante" and the Moai of Rapa Nui

    The largest stone moai on Rapa Nui.

  • Dowth, Ireland

    Newgrange

    The ancient tomb acts as a calendar that keeps perfect time.

  • Cats lounging on ancient architecture

    Rome, Italy

    Torre Argentina (Roman Cat Sanctuary)

    Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

  • For more than 30 years, the former town of Potosi resided underwater after it was flooded by the building of a dam

    Uribante, Venezuela

    The Drowned Church of Potosi

    A town church once nearly submerged by the damming of a river is now hauntingly visible as the water recedes.

  • “Stone of the Pregnant Woman” from a distance

    Baalbek, Lebanon

    Baalbek Trilithon

    The largest hewn stone in history.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.