Timucauan Religious Stone - New Port Richey, Florida - New World Ancient Evidence on Waymarking.com

Located in New Port Richey in front of the Widow Fletcher's Restaurant is a limestone rock with ancient carvings thought to have been carved by Timucuan native peoples between 5000 BC and 600 AD. According to Florida state certified archaeologist John Raabe, "the rock looks like an altar, possibly used in religious ceremonies. The two blank faces could be chiefs or religious leaders of the tribe." Raabe also noted the small cavity in the middle of the rock that was most likely used for offerings or sacrifices.

The carved stone is at ground level but can only be viewed from a raised deck and railing that protects it. Access to the deck is on the southeast side of the entrance along the disability access ramp and by a seated waiting area. Do not confuse this carved rock with a sister carved rock that is at the entrance.

The rock is approximately 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet high and was dug up when a nearby canal was created.

A informational sign, created by the Widow Fletcher's Tavern, has been placed on the wall above the rock. It reads as follows:

Timucauan Religious Stone?

"This rock is thought to have been carved by Timucuans between 1 and 400 AD which has two faces carved into it, and is an effigy to local priest chiefs, perhaps sun and rain gods given human faces. A cavity indicates the rock was used for religious ceremonies at which food and other precious items were places as offerings.

Most likely the carvings on the rock were the handiwork of the Timucuans, one of the groups of natives at the time of Florida's discovery by Europeans and the beginning of recorded history.

The Greater Tampa Bay area was within the jurisdiction of the Timucuans, in the subdivision of Tocobago.

Tocobago was the name of a Timucuan village or chief or both, located at Tampa Bay. It was possibly the largest village, with the most important chief, in a cluster of villages.

The Tocobago Timucuans lived a more sedentary life than their predecessors, building semi-permanent structures in small villages with a midden paralleling the shore. A midden is a pile of shellfish refuse that forms a mound.

The rock was discovered in 1981 during construction of the Seamarket Restaurant. A miniature golf course had been located there before that. The restaurant was sold to the Leverock's chain in 1991. It has been left untouched since that day - not cleaned or otherwise altered.

It originally was thought the rock was in its original location. However, a local resident said they remembered how a boating channel was dredged and rocks were lined out with a crane and piled on the adjacent land.

The theory is now that the large rock was excavated during the dredging of the channel.

But most likely the carvings on the rock were the handiwork of the Timucuans, one of the groups of natives at the time of Florida's discovery by Europeans and the beginning of recorded history.

So what is the real history? We will probably never know, but one thing for sure, the theories and myths continue to grow. From its infamous curse to a sacrificial stone to a priceless artifact. What's your theory? It may make you famous."

Inside the restaurant in the lobby is a framed copy of a newspaper article from the HT Times dated August 9, 1989 titled 'Rock at restaurant carved by ancient tribe, expert says.' This article gives a much more accurate representation of the rock's possible origins.

Type: Bedrock Mortar How did you find this "Ancient Evidence": Deliberately Searching Terrain Rating: Trailhead: Not Listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/23/2023 BoomersOTR visited it