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The Mill Complex has not been explored and may led to a larger component of the Spanish Mission.

Excavations on the Franciscan Frontier: Archaeology of Fig Springs Mission by Brent Richards Weisman is excellent reading and has the full story. We did have information from John M. Goggin’s work at the Fig Springs site.

The Florida Museum of Natural History has a large collection.

Other artifacts are in the R. A. Gray building in Tallahassee. John Worth has a few books on the subject.

We had long days but it was extremely rewarding. Going to the springs every day to work is working at a sacred place. The places that are most sacred to me are: Blue Hole Spring; Cedar Head Spring; Mission Spring Complex, which is comprised of a couple of springs, Roaring Spring and Singing Spring; Mill Pond. These are all the springs that were part of a Spanish Mission site for 50 years.

This complex of springs creates the Ichetucknee River that flows into Santa Fe River flowing into the Suwannee River and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Springs were considered an important resource when starting a colony. The springs provided a source of fresh water, game and fish were plentiful and soil was rich enough to provide for gardens.

This area is still an agricultural breadbasket. Peanuts and corn are two of the crops that are still raised in the area.

My favorite memories are of the fresh peach ice cream that Keith Terry’s wife, Wanda, would bring us for lunch.

Life was great as an archaeologist! Fond memories.