[3][4] Approximately seven thousand years ago, during the Archaic Period, indigenous people found plentiful fish and shellfish at this site in the shelter of a barrier island to the east.

[5][6] The site was inhabited approximately twelve hundred years ago by the Timucuans, whose descendants were discovered there by Europeans.

[11] Among mammals, the most prevalent source of food seems to have been deer, but other types of bones, such as fish, turtle and alligator remains, were all present.

[11] On May 7, 1973, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places[7] as a site significant for its information potential in the area of aboriginal history.

[2][7][12] The fountain is Marsh's artistic interpretation of the legend of Tomokie, whose arrogance in drinking from a sacred spring was paid for with his life and those of all his band.