6,000-Year-Old Knife Unearthed At Safety Harbor Park

A city crew erecting the shelter stumbled upon an old knife on Monday, and archeologists today confirmed it is 6,000 to 8,000 years old, said Brad Purdy, the spokesman for the city of Safety Harbor.

Plans to put up the shelter were put on hold as various members of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History decided to treat the site as an archeological dig. On their hands and knees in the mud, museum staff members this afternoon were sifting dirt for additional artifacts, said Ron Fekete, director of exhibits.

The 4-inch knife was likely used by the Tocobaga Indians, Purdy said. "The edges are so sharp," Fekete said. "It's in mint condition." It is made of chert, he said.