Within a mile and a half are numerous prehistoric sites, several dating from 2000 BC. Native Americans occupied the northern river section from about 4000 BC until the arrival of Europeans after 1500 AD. Riverbank settlements, permanent villages, and small seasonal campsites were common prehistoric site types. Abundant natural resources gave inhabitants opportunities to hunt, fish, and collect shellfish and plants. By the 1770's, when William Bartram explored the area and Francis Fatio established his homestead, few native peoples remained in the region. Today, shell refuse deposits, pieces of pottery, stone and bone tools, and soil stains provide archaeological evidence of the lifeways of those early Florida residents.