Years and land have swallowed much of Florida's earliest history, since the days when gigantic prehistoric creatures thudded the earth, aboriginals lived off the land and sea, and rudimentary colonial settlements dotted the landscape. Archaeological sites throughout the state rediscover signposts left by early cultures, signposts that point to their way of life and survival in the seething wilderness of the times. Sift back to those days at these sites, where archaeologists have uncovered Florida's past - and in some cases continue to do so - bit by bit.


NORTH FLORIDA

 Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, St. Augustine. Excavations at this site, believed to have been the point of landfall for Juan Ponce de Leon on his first visit to "La Florida" in 1513, have unearthed a cross made of stones, which archaeologists believe Ponce's men laid out on the ground to claim the land for Spain.

Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine. Next door to the Fountain of Youth park, this shrine marks the original permanent settlement of St. Augustine founded 52 years later by Pedro Menendez and the celebration of the nation's first Mass on site. Excavations are ongoing.

Mission San Luis, Tallahassee. One of an extensive system of Florida missions that emanated from the establishment of Nombre de Dios. This one, settled from 1656 to 1704, today offers visitors living history and a working archaeological site.

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee. Signage interprets two earthen temple mounds and others are scattered along nature trails through the park, where visitors can witness evidence of a Native American settlement dating to the 1200s.

Many of Florida's archaeological sites research and preserve remnants of prehistoric cultures, and this one dates back furthest to 200 B.C.

CENTRAL FLORIDA

 Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River. Many of Florida's archaeological sites research and preserve remnants of prehistoric cultures, and this one dates back furthest to 200 B.C. The museum displays excavated items dating from then through 1400 A.D., during which eras the site was home to various native tribes. Attractions along the outdoor foot trail include a 30-foot burial mound you can climb and rare ceremonial stones.

Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History, Safety Harbor. Located on the site of a Tocobaga Indian mound, it showcases artifacts that were found in the mound, which dates back to the Safety Harbor culture, 1500 to 1700 A.D. Many of these ancient mounds were leveled by development, but at nearby Philippe Park, you can climb to the top of a preserved ancient mound that scenically overlooks Old Tampa Bay.

Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, St. Petersburg. The Weeden [sic] Island culture settled Florida slightly later than Crystal River's earliest civilizations, between 400 and 1200 A.D. The natives lefts shards of pottery and other proof of their existence in shell mounds excavated by the Smithsonian Institution in the 1920s. A new facility exhibits and interprets the finds from these early versions of waste management landfill sites.


SOUTH FLORIDA

 Mound Key Archeological State Park, Estero. The capital of Calusa civilization, this un-bridged island is accessible by kayak or boat tour to intrepid visitors who wish to explore the dig site of a 32-foot mound.

Randell Research Center, Pineland. On the site of the second most important Calusa settlement in Florida, its walking trail crosses an ancient canal dug by the tribe. On Saturdays, the center conducts interpretative tours of its mound and dig site. Volunteers are welcome to "dig in" by calling ahead. Backed by the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, it is in the process of expanding its facilities and interpretative programming.


THROUGHOUT FLORIDA

 Underwater archaeological sites. In both coastal and inland waters, state underwater archaeological preserves tell tales of Florida's rich maritime past and allow recreational divers to explore wrecks. Urca de Lima, one from a string of early 18th century Spanish treasure shipwrecks along the central east coast, is preserved near Fort Pierce for divers in search of gold doubloons. The SS Copenhagen, a steamer that crashed into the reef near Pompano Beach, is another sight for masked eyes. Near Old Town in north central Florida lies the wreck of the 1920s steamboat, City of Hawkinsville. The SS Tarpon State Underwater Archaeological Preserve, off the shores of Panama City Beach, provides further grounds for down-under exploration.