The
fragmentary remains of a bottlenose dolphin skull were found in the northeast
quadrant of the Miami Circle. Reconstruction of the available bones indicates
that most of the cranium is present, lacking teeth and lower mandible. Radiocarbon
dating of the dolphin skull indicates it was buried sometime around A.D.
1530-1680. Dolphin skulls have been reported from a few other Florida sites
and may have been kept in order to extract the numerous, conical teeth, which
were used as beads and pendants. At least one example of a perforated bottlenose
dolphin tooth was recovered from excavations at the Miami Circle.