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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
08:23
Seawater Sampling and Collection
Published on: June 17, 2009
Little salt spring, Florida: a unique underwater site
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 16, 1979
Summary
Little Salt Spring in Florida preserved ancient artifacts from Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods. Evidence suggests a cultural connection between Archaic peoples and the later Glades Tradition.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleoenvironmental studies
- Florida history
Background:
- Little Salt Spring, a unique cenote in Florida, features a shallow basin above a deep underwater cavern.
- The cenote's past freshwater environment facilitated the preservation of organic materials.
- The site contains evidence of human occupation spanning multiple millennia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze preserved organic artifacts and human remains from Little Salt Spring.
- To establish the chronological sequence of human presence at the site.
- To investigate potential cultural links between different prehistoric groups in Florida.
Main Methods:
- Excavation and analysis of organic artifacts.
- Radiocarbon dating of materials.
- Skeletal analysis of human remains.
- Comparative study of artifact typology and burial practices.
Main Results:
- Discovery of Paleo-Indian and Archaic Indian artifacts dated between 12,000-9,000 and 6,800-5,200 years ago.
- Identification of a large Archaic Period cemetery with approximately 1,000 burials.
- Artifacts and interment methods indicate a cultural relationship between Archaic peoples and the Glades Tradition.
Conclusions:
- Little Salt Spring is a crucial site for understanding early human occupation in Florida.
- The findings reveal a long-term cultural continuity in southern Florida.
- The study highlights the cenote's significance in preserving critical paleo-environmental and archaeological data.
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