Exploring Canaveral National Seashore
View from atop Turtle Mound, looking north at Canaveral Seashore. |
The Canaveral National Seashore runs along the coast in southern Volusia and northern Brevard counties. It's a National Park with great places to hike, swim and, of course, some wonderful archaeological sites!
Turtle Mound is the largest mound in the mainland United States. Today, it's around 35 ft tall but it's estimated to have been well over 50 ft high. During the 19th and 20th century, workers mined middens and shell mounds to use the material as road fill.
The mound is constructed mainly of oyster shell but also includes bones from animals like deer, fish and small game as well as artifacts like ceramic sherds, worked bone and projectile points. The site is thought to date to around AD 800 to 1200.
One of the current concerns at Turtle Mound is erosion. In the past few years, the National Park Service has been experimenting with living shorelines as a way to prevent erosion as well as promote a healthier estuary around Turtle Mound. Living shoreline restoration is a technique that involves using live native species of plants and oysters to create self-sustaining barriers protecting against erosion, wave-attenuation and lose of habitat.
A sign near Turtle Mound explains their living shoreline restoration project. |
Standing in front of one of the last remnants of Eldora. |
Dolly's headstone and photo. |
In the State House are artifacts found at Eldora, salvaged architectural features from buildings no longer standing, and photos from Eldora's heyday. Among these is a headstone from an important resident: Dolly.
To learn more about Canaveral National Seashore, including admission fees, hours of operation and programing, please visit the NPS website.