When you hear stories like this about our great state of Florida it's hard not to develop a new sense of pride. You may have missed the headlines this year, but there was a spectacular discovery made off the coast of Venice, Florida. While an amateur diver was out diving for shark's teeth, he ended up coming across something entirely different—a Native American burial site dating back 7,000 years.
An amateur fossil hunter in Venice, Florida was searching for shark teeth one afternoon when he came across an ancient jawbone.
Swimming near Manasota Key near the Gulf of Mexico, the ancient jawbone discovery led to alerting scientists after possible human remains were reported.
After vetting the area, archaeologists believe the site was once used as a burial site by indigenous people to bury their family members.
The site where the discovery was made was once a freshwater peat-bottomed pond, until eventually succumbing to rising sea levels.
However, the peat moss slowed down the process of decay, while helped to preserve the indigenous remains.
Scientists and archaeologists both hope that discoveries such as this can help provide a better understanding of Florida’s early inhabitants.
The excavating team at the site also found six different sets of human remains, fragments of textile, and sharpened wooden sticks.
What makes this ancient discovery so unprecedented is that it is the only other known offshore burial site besides what was discovered in Denmark and Israel.
Thanks to YouTuber WFLA News Channel 8, you can see actual footage of the excavation process underwater.
What are your thoughts on discoveries like these? Share with us your comments below!
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