Lake Okeechobee Legend

Lake Okeechobee from space.

Drought Unearths Ancient Artifacts In Lake 'O'

WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―

CBS

Close

CBS

1 of 1

A statewide drought that has bared portions of Lake Okeechobee's bottom has also been a boon to archaeologists.

Thousands of pieces of pottery, five boats and human bone fragments have been discovered at Lake Okeechobee.

Since March, state and local archaeologists have been collecting the artifacts from the lake's bottom which has been exposed during this year's drought.

The lake reached a historically low level recently and it's the first time in years that some areas of the lake have been exposed.

More than 17 sites have been identified in Palm Beach County's portion of the lake in the last three months. They are scattered over miles of terrain.

The bone fragments range from a couple inches long to about 6 or 8 inches. No studies have been done on the human remains, but experts say they likely to be one-thousand years old, or possibly older. The state has alerted the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes of the bones, but no decision has been made on their fate.

The researchers are now in a race against looters and the weather to preserve the findings.