Manatee Springs to Crystal River Archeological sites

Several times in the past we have chosen to take a slow trip up the coast of Florida.  We have stopped at Manatee Springs 4 times now and love it for it's quiet, natural setting.  The spring this park is named for, is as clear as air, yet appears turquoise.  Folks love to swim or soak in it's cool waters.  Along the short waterway  from the spring to the Suwannee River, the park system has built a wooden raised walkway, to traverse the cypress swamp.

Buzzards lined the tree tops and below, in the mud were constant signs of raccoon traffic.

While sitting in our motor home, we enjoyed the deer walking through the campground eating vegetation.  They were cautious and often looked around.  Later, while walking our dog, we came across deer several times.

 Our dog, a rat terrier/all of 8 pounds was totally confused.  Her eyes were as large as they get.  Seems she had never seen a 'dog ' this big!

Next day, we were traveling north and spotted a sign for an archaeological site along the Crystal river.  I enjoy the history of our hemisphere so turned to investigate.  The site was the remnants of a village along the water dating thousands of years ago.  Various tribes over time inhabited this area.

A shell midden was at one time a Temple Mound with a ramp built leading to a large stone in the center of the village which might have had special significance.  The midden was build entirely of oyster shells.  Sorry to say, part of the midden mound, had been destroyed by early settlers or land owners but it does allow a good shot of the shells.

In the museum was something extremely interesting to me.  A pottery chard (piece) that resembles the large eyed drawing humans have drawn for thousands of years, representing aliens.  Yes, aliens.

I have NEVER seen this drawing on Eastern indian pottery, although in the american south west, this representation of a humanoid is common in petroglyphs.

Also, inside the museum as a very decent collection of man made weapon points, from spears or arrows.  I happen to be lucky enough to have one of these.

This display shows a specific type of arrow head I actually found on the surface of a plowed field in Georgia 40 years ago. It's the 'White' one shown here in the upper right and called by either name,  a Bollen Bevel or a Big Sandy.  It's one of the earliest projectile points found in the South East U.S.  and was believed to be made by the first nomadic peoples venturing into this  part of the U.S 7,000 BC, read that as...........9,000 years ago!  How cool!

Pottery displayed here was pieced together from fragments found on the property.

View from the top of the Temple Mound looking west.