An Ice Age Mystery: Unearthing the Secrets of the Old Vero Site

by Rody L. Johnson

In 1916, to the shock of the scientific community and the world at large, a Florida geologist discovered human remains mixed with the bones of prehistoric animals in a Vero Beach canal and proclaimed that humans had lived in North America since the Ice Age. These new findings by Elias Sellards flew in the face of prevailing wisdom, which held that humans first came to the continent only 6,000 years ago. His claim was snubbed by the top scientists of his day, he was laughed out of the state, Vero’s fame declined, and the skull Sellards found—famously known as “Vero Man”—was lost.
 
An Ice Age Mystery tells the story of Sellards’s exciting find and the controversy it sparked. In the years that followed, other archaeological discoveries and the rise of radiocarbon dating established that humans did arrive in North America earlier than previously thought. The skull, however, was never recovered, and many people began to wonder: What exactly had Sellards found at Vero? And what else might be buried there?
 
One hundred years after the first Vero discovery, construction plans threatened to cover up the legendary dig site, and a band of citizens and archaeologists protested. Excavations were reopened. Archaeologists uncovered 14,000-year-old burnt mammal bones and charcoal, signs of a human presence, and found further evidence to indicate a continuous human occupation of the site for several thousand years. Prior to the latest excavations an etching on a bone possibly 13,000 years old was discovered that could be the oldest piece of art in America. Sellards had been right all along.
 
Many questions still remain. Who were these people? Where did they come from? And how did they get here? This book draws readers into the past, present, and future of one of the most historic discoveries in American archaeology.

Genres: History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2017

Reviews

[BRT]

A well researched and detailed book about the archeological site in Vero Beach, Florida. Covers the history of the site from the first major, but controversial find of Vero Man, (which may turn out to be Vero Woman,) side stories on other U.S. Sites as comparisons, and a wealth of information about the community group who worked relentlessly to revive interest in sand save the site. Lots of specific archaeological detail written for the layman to understand.

[Michael E.]

It isn't often that a book about local history would make me stop in the bookstore and buy it, but this one did and I am glad I did. I have lived in Ver Beach since 2015 and until now I thought the most important historical fact was the the 9-11 hijackers trained in Vero; but this, if what is said in this book is true, is beyond appointment. This book is about human remains found 100 years ago, which may be the oldest remains in North America; if the remains were not lost that is. This book covers the troubles and tribulations that the Vero dig site has had to endure; be it weather, racism or politics.
I did not even know there was a dig site in the town, you would think that would be something the town would scream at the top of their collective lungs but it is ignored, which is sad, because it could very well challenge the beliefs of Scientists every where when it comes to human migrations in the Americas.

[Rita]

Rody Johnson has provided an excellent presentation of the history of this archaeological site in Vero Beach, FL. He and his wife have been instrumental in helping to preserve the information about the site, and in educating the public about the need to continue the scientific work on the site(s).