Spanish maps indicate Ponce de Leon Inlet open and in the same position as today.
1519 Juan Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda explored all of Gulf Coast from Florida to Mexico, confirming that Florida was a peninsula. Human history in the Indian River Lagoon region begins about 15,000 years ago with tribal hunters and gatherers roving throughout the region. Indian settlements have been recorded from about 12,000 years ago. Many of these ancient coastal settlements are now under water due to rises in sea level. The limited numbers of these early residents caused little environmental impact on the area.