Citrus County Sites

CRYSTAL RIVER STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

This archaeological site preserves an Indian mound complex that is one of the longest continuously occupied sites in Florida (1600 years-from 200 B.C. to 1400 A.D.). Established by Indians known as "Pre-Columbian Mound Build-ers," it is one of the most important pre-Columbian sites in the state. The complex consists of temple mounds, burial mounds and middens(refuse mounds).
An abundant supply of shellfish formed an important part of the diet of the Indians here and made their long occupation of the site possible.
As the Indians cast away the empty shells over the centuries, the mounds grew into"middens."
The Crystal River site was an important cere-monial and cultural center. A primitive solar observatory composed of a giant calendar made of shell and stone used to determine dates reveals that sun worship was important here. This site is one of the few locations of stelae (ceremonial stones) in North America north of Mexico and sug-gests contact with Indian cultures in the Yucatan. The artifacts found here reveal cultural changes that occurred over the centuries of occupation.
The large temple mound to the north, 235 feet in length, is especially impressive. The older temple structure to the south, rising approximately 30 feet, is one of the highest in Florida, An extensive refuse midden extends from the south mound more than 400 feet toward the northwest.
More than 450 burials have been found at the site since excavations began in 1903. Many more burials are expected to be located in areas of the burial mounds not yet excavated- Some of the items in the graves indicate trade with Indians hundreds of miles north of the Ohio River.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Recreation and Parks

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building
3900 Commonwealth Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399

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