In Water from Stone, Jason O'Donoughue investigates the importance of natural springs to ancient Floridians. Throughout their history, Florida's springs have been gathering places for far-flung peoples. O'Donoughue finds that springs began flowing several millennia earlier than previously thought, serving as sites of habitation, burials, ritualized feasting, and monument building for Florida's earliest peoples.

O'Donoughue moves beyond the focus on the ecological roles of springs and the current popular image of springs as timeless and pristine, approaches taken by many archaeologists and conservationists. He argues for an archaeological perspective that emphasizes the social and historical importance of springs, explaining how this viewpoint creates a bridge between past and present, enhances the intrinsic value of springs, and is vital to the success of contemporary conservation efforts.