Early Native American Inhabitants
The land now comprising Faver-Dykes State Park was once home to Native American peoples who thrived in northeast Florida for thousands of years. Archaeological sites in and around St. Augustine reveal occupation dating back at least 12,000 years, spanning the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian periods.
These indigenous groups exploited the region’s abundant natural resources:
- Hunting deer, turkey, and small mammals
- Fishing in nearby rivers and lakes
- Gathering nuts, berries, and roots
- Utilizing local plants for medicine and tools
The proximity to freshwater bodies, fertile soils, and diverse habitats made the area around Faver-Dykes ideal for seasonal camps and more permanent settlements.
The Timucua People
At the time of European contact in the 16th century, the territory was primarily inhabited by the Timucua, a complex society with several chiefdoms spread across northeast Florida and southeastern Georgia.
The Timucua were skilled in agriculture, cultivating crops such as maize, beans, and squash. They also built shell mounds and ceremonial sites, some of which still exist in the greater St. Augustine region.
While direct evidence of Timucua villages within the modern park boundaries is sparse, the land was undoubtedly part of their seasonal range for hunting, fishing, and gathering. shutdown123