Ancient Indigenous Burial Site Unearthed Beneath St. Regis Residences Construction in Brickell

A remarkable archaeological discovery is unfolding beneath one of Brickell’s most high-profile construction sites. An ancient indigenous settlement and burial site, previously undocumented and estimated to be around 3,500 years old, has been uncovered at 1809 Brickell Avenue, the future site of the luxurious St. Regis Residences Miami.

Archaeologist Bob Carr of the South Florida Archaeological and Historical Conservancy submitted a preliminary report in October 2024 detailing findings from excavation work conducted on the site. These include ancient fire pits, pottery shards, stone tools, projectile points, and faunal remains. Most notably, human remains were uncovered, including what appears to be the intentional burial of an infant, suggesting the site served as a burial ground or cemetery. The artifacts span a wide timeline, from the Late Archaic period to the Glades II era, dating between 1,000 and 3,500 years ago. Items from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including a pewter cross, were also discovered.

Carr’s report advises that some key areas of the site, including well-preserved middens and green space near Brickell Avenue, should be preserved if possible. An archaeological management plan will be developed once the excavation progresses further.

Related Group and Integra Investments have affirmed their full compliance with local and state preservation laws and confirmed that excavation is ongoing. The developers are working closely with governmental agencies and have facilitated site visits by public officials. Artifacts found thus far are being securely housed by the archaeological team.

Initially, the City of Miami redacted information about human remains from the October 2024 report. However, the city later released the full report, citing no exemption under Florida’s public records laws. The redactions had been made at the request of the state’s archaeology division, according to city officials.

Notably, the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board has yet to formally review the discovery. Board members have stated that they had not been briefed nor received a presentation by city staff, despite their jurisdiction under municipal ordinance to evaluate such findings and advise on preservation.

This isn’t the first major archaeological find connected to Related Group developments. A separate excavation at a Brickell site along the Miami River revealed evidence of a 2,000-year-old Tequesta village. That discovery led to preservation agreements and the designation of a neighboring site as a historically significant location.

The Brickell shoreline has long been regarded as a critical area for indigenous history, with multiple significant discoveries dating back to the 1990s. The uncovering of a potential Late Archaic cemetery at 1809 Brickell further strengthens the case that the area was home to vibrant Native American communities over several millennia.

As archaeological work continues, experts believe the site may yield even more information about Miami’s earliest inhabitants, offering a rare window into a deep and often overlooked chapter of the city’s past.