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Warm Mineral Springs: One of the most spectacular underwater archaeology sites in the world has been found here. Deep inside the spring caverns, fossils have been found dating over 20,000 years. Remains of village life dating back 10,000 years have been the most important find found inside Warm Mineral Springs. During the time when the planet was cooler, more ice around the north and south poles created a lower water level than where the oceans are today. Because of the lower water level, what today is an underwater cave was back then a dry cave, good for a village site. Water around Florida is the best medium to protect archaeology finds.

Unfortunately, state funding cuts put an end to the archaeology excavations in 1992. The spring is in danger of not being protected for the future.

Historic Spanish Point: This park was where the first white settlers in the county lived, and they even had enough interest to save some local mounds or middens that are inside the park. These mounds date before 2000 B.C., which even pre-dates pottery. There is also a museum with exhibits on the early Floridians who built the mounds. This museum is one of the best on the west Florida coast about early Floridians, and even shows you a cross section of one of the mounds to look at the various stages of occupation. If you are ever near Osprey, check it out. Small admission charge to get into the park.

Indian Mound Park: At Paulson's Point, at the town of Englewood, is what is also known as the Sarasota County mound. This park has walkways that go over and around the mound. Coontie plants grow over the mound; these were an ancient starch staple that could make nice bread after the poison was filtered out. Early Floridians lived here from around 1000 B.C. to 1350 A.D. Today modern Floridians can come here and enjoy a picnic, and there is no admission fee.