The discovery of a 2,500-years-old archaeological site in downtown Miami has unleashed a battle between researchers and archaeologists attempting to preserve the site for its historical value and an enormous apartment, office, business and hotel complex planned to be built in the area.
According to information published by Reuters, in 2005 a group of archaeologists discovered a first site of what is thought to be a village of the Tequesta tribe, which lived in what is Miami's metropolitan area until the 1,700's, approximately.
The importance of the find lies in that researchers don't think these are isolated edifications, but rather the ruins of a complete settlement of the ancient inhabitants of the land, who had lived here between 500 and 600 BCE.
We're getting a vision of what might be one of the oldest cities in eastern North America," said archaeologist Robert Carr, who was hired to examine the site by the developer MDM Development Group, based in Miami, one of companies most interested in completing the ambitious project in the area, according to Reuters.
This is the main motive for the controversy that has been developing in recent years, since the Metropolitan Miami complex developed by MDM Development Group has not progressed as planned, due to the importance of the findings.
According to CNN, the excavations carried out by the archaeologists have cost the developer around $3 million dollars, plus other costs due to the delay and changes in the initial projection.
Soon to be finished, the Metropolitan Miami complex, which includes a residential and office building, must be approved by the city's council.
"This is the last element of an extensive project for the development of the urban center, and they've all been successful," said Gene Stearns, a lawyer for MDM Development Group, quoted by CNN.
The developer's plans consist in cutting a section of the rocks found and rebuilding a structure of the Tequesta tribe over it, as an exhibit.
However, the archaeologists and researchers have been worried over these actions, because they might put the historic integrity of the structure at risk. The Council for Miami's Historical Preservation will meet next Feb. 14 to evaluate the final designs for the Metropolitan Miami complex.
Then, they will be examined by the city council, who will then provide a final verdict.