Green Mound State Archaeological Site

William L. Bryant (an associate of Bullen and Sleight) stands on a ledge of the profile wall of Test 1b of Green Mound. (Photo from THE WILLIAM L. BRYANT FOUNDATION AMERICAN STUDIES REPORT NUMBER TWO: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF GREEN MOUND FLORIDA, 1960)

Located south of Daytona Beach, Ponce Preserve Municipal Park stretches from the banks of the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean. Protecting a cross section of pristine barrier island habitat, the 41-arce park features the Green Mound State Archaeological Site.

A mound or “midden” is essentially a dump site composed of shells, bones, pottery sherds, and other artifacts that were cast aside by the Indigenous inhabitants over many generations. The composition of the midden caused many artifacts to be preserved over the ages. Archaeological surveys of the mound revealed a vertical chronology of the Native Americans who constructed it between 800 and 1600 CE. In fact, the very formation of the midden signified the shift from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle as the mound was created from the shellfish diet that allowed the population to flourish in the area for hundreds of years.

Initial studies of the Green Mound area were conducted in 1948 by archeologist Dr. John Griffin.  Later excavation by Ripley P. Bullen and Frederick W. Sleight (1960) revealed multiple layers of clay floors, remnants of structural components such as postholes, and evidence of ash, fire pits and hearths at the site. It is thought that the dwellings that sat upon the mound were constructed of materials such as palmetto limbs and other local forms of timber such as oak.

Green Mound once rose more than 50 feet above the surrounding landscape but, during the 1920's it was in danger of being completely destroyed (as were many of Florida's mounds). Massive amounts of Green Mound's shell were removed for use in road construction. By 1930, almost one-third of the site had been put into roads! But thanks to concerned citizens, Green Mound was protected and can still be visited today.  Laws are now in place to protect these important historic sites for future generations.

Today, Green Mound is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the Town of Ponce Inlet. Located inside the park of Ponce Preserve, one can walk an easy trail around the mound.

Ponce Preserve features two nature-themed playgrounds, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a restroom facility, elevated boardwalks, hiking trails, observation towers, and the Green Mound State Archaeological Site. 

The terrain surrounding the Green Mound State Archaeological Site is varied, ranging from ocean dunes, terraced palmetto patches, and maritime hammocks to wetlands adjacent the Halifax River.  Native plants in the Preserve include Florida lantana, southern red cedar, cabbage palms, Simpson’s stoppers and oak trees. At the base of the Green Mound is a live oak estimated to be more than 350 years old. The Preserve has been added to the Great Florida Birding Trail and is an excellent site for bird watching.

The park offers a variety of hiking opportunities. Venture out on a 1/3 mile boardwalk that extends out to the Halifax River, walk through a natural hardwood hammock and palmetto scrub, or explore the coastal dune system that parallels the beach. The park’s varied topography provides a nice sense of balance for hikers of all abilities. Half the trails feature steep climbs and dips while the other half is entirely wheelchair accessible.

Most of the park’s features and amenities can be accessed directly from the parking lot on South Peninsula Drive including the covered pavilion, restroom building, kayak and canoe launches, river boardwalk, Green Mound, and most trailheads. The wildlife observation tower and second playground can be found a short distance away along a well-maintained trail. The boardwalk linking the park to beach is easily accessed from the Preserve’s second parking lot on South Atlantic Avenue.

Funding for Preserve’s development was provided by the Ponce de Leon Inlet & Port District of Volusia County and the Florida Inland Navigation District. The Garden Club of Ponce Inlet provided the benches throughout the park and landscaping at the entrance island. The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program and Volusia ECHO grants funded construction of the recreational facilities.