Sarasota Livin'

'Dive into the Past' exhibit on Little Salt Spring to open at North Port Library

In celebration of Florida Archeology Month in March, “Dive into the Past: An Exhibit on the Little Salt Spring Archaeological Site,” will be on display March 1-30 at North Port Public Library. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the library, 13800 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port (corner of Biscayne Boulevard and US 41). A lecture by archaeologist Steve Koski is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The exhibit, developed by the Sarasota County History Center, offers a look at the region surrounding North Port’s Little Salt Spring dating back to when Paleo-Indians — the first Floridians — arrived more than 12,000 years ago.

"Dive into the Past" was on display in early 2006 at the History Center. Its month-long appearance at North Port Library is sponsored by the University of Miami, North Port Public Library, Friends of the North Port Area Public Library, the Sarasota County History Center and the Warm Mineral Springs/Little Salt Spring Archaeological Society.

Gifted to the University of Miami in 1982, the 110-acre preserve in North Port contains Little Salt Spring, a 240-foot deep, hourglass-shaped sinkhole with water conditions that allow for amazing preservation of bones and other artifacts buried within its sediments. For more than two decades, University of Miami scientists have been carefully exploring the site and are now bringing their results to the public. Evidence of early people and extinct creatures such as giant ground sloths and tortoises, bison, crocodiles and even saber-tooth cats, has been found.

Artifacts recovered from the spring indicate that the site was an important one, used for short-term hunting and habitation. Informational panels will help the visitor understand the exhibit by providing an introduction to the fields of archeology and underwater archeology, the Paleo and Archaic traditions in Florida, environmental conditions at Little Salt Spring and underwater archeology at the spring. On display will be artifacts recovered from the spring over the past decade, including projectile points and shell tools. Many of the artifacts have been loaned for the exhibit by the University of Miami. The exhibit will also include fossils and artifacts found at other sites throughout the U.S.

North Port Public Library, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., is one of eight libraries in the Sarasota County Library System. For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask about "Dive into the Past" at North Port Library.