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| Crystal River Archeological Park, oils on canvas panel, 11" x 14." Contact artist for price. |
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I was surprised to learn that Crystal River had an archeological site dating from 14,000 years ago. The
Crystal River Archeological Park gives the visitor a fascinating glimpse into these prehistoric settlements. Six burial and ceremonial mounds are found on the 14-acre site at the mouth of the Crystal River, which was occupied until the times of the Spanish conquest.
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| Armadillo at the Crystal River Archeological Park |
On our way into the park we saw another car stopped by the side of the road. Curious, we pulled up to see why these folk were there--and saw an armadillo cross the road--the creature lingered long enough to allow me to take this shot.
The small 1960's-style museum housed an interesting collection of artifacts and exhibits giving a history of the cultures who successively occupied the site, as well as the early 20-century archeologists who studied it. Motion-controlled stations with recordings around the site provided a nice self-guided tour.
Herb and I walked by the burial mounds and climbed up the large Ceremonial mound (the highest on the site) which had at one time an earthen ramp that had been removed and replaced by stairs. We saw a stone
stele with a face carved on it, a rarity among these early cultures.
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| The large Ceremonial Mound |
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| The Stele | | |
There were many birds and wildlife all around. The place was pervaded by a quiet elegiac atmosphere, to which the Spanish moss waving on the huge trees probably contributed. I resolved to come back another day to paint on site.
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| Herb at the archeological park | | | | |
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I came back toward the end of our stay and painted the oil above on a very windy and chilly day--sheltered from the wind behind the trunk of a large live oak, it was much warmer here in January than in Maryland.
