A small team of archaeologists has been working quietly ever since. The issue didn't hit the news until last month when the developer announced he was ready to begin construction. The prospect that the circle and other artifacts on the site might be destroyed has triggered an outcry across the nation. But it remains unclear whether concerns expressed in Internet discussions and radio call-in shows will translate into enough private dollars to buy the land. Local officials are investigating whether state and federal grants are available.
Theories abound about exactly what the circle is or was.
And the mystery has helped raise the issue into a major public policy concern in south Florida, and a hot topic of conversation. It seems everyone in town has an opinion on what should be done. Her friend Fran Hunter nods in agreement. Some believe the circle was built by the ancient Mayans and is a kind of celestial calendar. They say the circle may be a Miami version of Britain's Stonehenge and when analyzed in concert with other Mayan calendars it could open new doors to human understanding of the world and the universe.