Little Salt Spring

Little Salt Spring is an archaeological site and natural lake with a depth of about 245 feet (75 meters) and a surface pond about 40 feet (12 meters) across. Mineral-rich water feeds into the system through numerous natural vents at the bottom.

People inhabited this area roughly 12,000 years ago, as shown by bones and tools discovered at this location. The oxygen-poor environment below the water line has preserved these early traces of human activity for thousands of years.

The name refers to the salt minerals dissolved in the water, which give it a distinctive salty quality. The site draws people interested in learning how the earliest inhabitants of Florida lived and adapted to their surroundings.

Access to the water requires caution, as depth increases quickly and the lower zone lacks oxygen. Visitors should respect the surroundings and follow local guidance, since the area is protected due to its archaeological importance.

Researchers found a deer antler marked with about 28 parallel lines, possibly used as a lunar calendar roughly 10,000 years ago. This discovery suggests that early people in this region already understood complex timekeeping methods.