Remains of 2,000-year-old woman found under Pine Island Road

Construction crews digging trench for water main discover woman's remains

DAVIE, Fla. – Archeologists say a significant prehistoric find was made outside a quiet Davie neighborhood just before Christmas: a woman's remains perfectly preserved for 2,000 years.

A few weeks ago as construction crews were digging a trench for a water main along busy Pine Island Road, they made a fascinating find.

"We uncovered the remains of an Indian woman," said Bob Carr, director of Archaeological and Historical Conservancy. "Prehistoric dating back 2,000 years."

Due to state law and tribal respect, Local 10 cannot show the skeletal remains of the woman, but crews did find a few other artifacts nearby.

"This was made from a deer bone and these were used as tools," said Carr.

Weaving baskets and smoking fish on an open fire is probably the best description of what life was like for the woman 2,000 years ago, living on one of the Pine Islands, fishing and hunting out of wooden canoes.

The woman was only 5 feet tall, between 20 and 30 years old and pre-Tequestan, from the late Archaic period.

"Pine Island ridge was actually the Pine Islands," said Carr. "There was a group of islands surrounded by the Everglades."

The Everglades stretched well into Davie and Fort Lauderdale, and the islands have been inhabited for 5,000 years.

"Thousands of cars have passed over this every month, so it gives you an idea that even under a modern highway, there could be some archeological gem," Carr said.

Meanwhile, neighbors from Forest Ridge were wondering what was happening at the curious construction site.

"I think it is amazing," said Nancy Nelson, who lives nearby. "All the history that is underneath our feet."

"I can assure you there are more graves under Pine Island Road," said Carr.