By Kyle Meenan
First Coast News 

(Source:   www.firstcoastnews.com)

22nd May 2004

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- As bulldozers began clearing the way for new riverfront homes, they discovered human remains. Now it is being called a find of enormous historical significance in America's oldest city.

Archaeologists took nine sets of remains to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where it was confirmed they are those of Yamasee Indians.

The Yamasee were a dark-skinned Muscogean people, many of which were slaughtered here by the British in 1727.

"They mixed with the Seminole. They have members in several different Seminole Nations," said David Thundershield Queen, a local descendant of Native Americans.

Thundershield Queen joined about three dozens marchers at St. Augustine City Hall Saturday morning for a Sunrise march and demonstration, winding through the fabled cobblestone streets to the ancient burial site.

The site itself rests on the Western banks of the Matanzas River, roughly one half mile south of the Bridge of Lions at the intersection of Tremerton and Marine Streets.

Many will remember it as the site of the doctor's building next to the original St. Augustine Hospital, but now historians have learned the site housed a Spanish La Punta Mission three hundred years ago.

"So it's a very significant piece of the historic fabric of our City," said St. Augustine Mayor George Gardner.

Garner told First Coast News the Spanish Missionaries would bury their dead in the European fashion, under the floor of the mission itself, and on adjoining grounds. It's believed there may be as many as one hundred sets of remains on this site.

Over many generations, the mission was eventually torn down, for other buildings to come and go. All the while, the bodies lay untouched below ground, until this month, when the construction and digging began.

Gardner says that for area archaeologists, this is a significant missing piece of the fabled history of Saint Augustine.

"Elements they couldn't identify on early maps or in reports all of a sudden came together with the realization that there was a burial ground here," said Gardner.

"We want the bodies respected. We want them left where they lay. Right now we want the ones that were removed to be repatriated and brought back and respectfully reburied at the site," said Thundershield Queen.

"We don't see them digging up historic Spanish figures, or Huguenots, or any other people of Caucasian descent. And we just want the same kind of respect for our indigenous people."

For long time resident and self described Multicultural Activist Glenda Bailey-Mershon, it was a time for quiet reflection and the sprinkling of burnt sage and the entrance to the burial site.

"It's just traditional. It's a purifying element we burn it, and chant. It also honors people so we do it in ceremonies, usually," said Bailey-Mershon.

Mayor Gardner says the developer probably had no idea what lay beneath the surface when he bought the land. He says Michael Johnigean could choose to continue to build, but it could cost upwards of two hundred thousand dollars for the remains to be properly and legally processed from this site for interment elsewhere.

"He is finding out that his little development is much more significant than he anticipated," said Gardner.

Thundershield Queen would like to see this spot designated sacred ground, perhaps with an historic Archaeological Park.

"To respect all the original inhabitants of this land as well as the newcomers; the Spanish, the French Huguenots and the others," said Thundershield Queen

He says there are grant monies that could be available to compensate the current landowner.

"Why is the Castillo saved, preserved, and millions of dollars put into it when this site is just left like this?"

Environmental Youth Council member Bill Hamilton addressed the early morning marchers, telling them it is time to get honest about the real history of the area, and the people buried on the site.

"We owe it to them to begin the process of acknowledging our past and being honest about our history," said Hamilton. "And one of the ways we do that is by acknowledging those sites that were here originally and agreeing to protect them."