Crystal Springs in Pasco County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Mystery in Stone
Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
1. Mystery in Stone Marker
Carved Stone Slab (Stela 1)
Since its discovery in 1964 by archaeologist Ripley Bullen, Stela 1 has remained a mystery. In the ground near the stone researchers found a small cache of stone tools, animal bones, and charcoal, possibly left as an offering. While some researchers felt that the face on the stela was probably carved in antiquity, others suggest the stela is entirely modern. What do you think?
Face from the Past
The human face pecked and carved into the stela's surface only adds to the mystery of this object. Researchers have suggested similarities to other human clay figures and carvings. Native peoples left carvings on rock walls and free-standing boulders in Georgia and Tennessee, but no link to any other culture outside the Southeast United States has been proven.
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Examples of human figures from other Florida archaeological sites of a similar age to Crystal River. At left, jar in the form of a man; at right, human effigy pot. Both from Walton County, Florida.
Photo of the stela from the 1960s with possible human carving outlined in red. Erosion from plant growth and exposure to the weather has caused the carving on this limestone boulder to become less clear over time.
Erected by Florida
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.
Location. 28° 54.508′ N, 82° 37.616′ W. Marker is in Crystal Springs, Florida, in Pasco County. It is on North Museum Point 0.1 miles south of West State Park Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located within Crystal River Archaeological State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3400 North Museum Point, Crystal Springs FL 33524, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast and on Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
2. Mystery in Stone Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Remembering the Dead (within shouting distance of this marker); Watery World (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Separate Resting Place (about 500 feet away); A View from the Top (about 600 feet away); A Place to Call Home (about 600 feet away); Temple or Stage? (about 600 feet away); Crystal River: An Enduring Legacy (about 700 feet away); Kings Bay Park (approx. 2.1 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. The Storied Past of the Crystal River Archaeological State Park. (Submitted on March 16, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Crystal River Archaeological State Park. (Submitted on March 16, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
3. The Face in the Stone
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
4. Crystal River Archaeological State Park Entrance Sign
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
