Reward offered for artifacts stolen from Central Florida museum

OCALA, Fla. – A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the recovery of two artifacts reported stolen from a Florida museum.

The Ocala Star-Banner reports a copper bowl from the 17th century and a handmade wooden sign used at Silver Springs were taken from the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center sometime last weekend.

Museum director Scott Mitchell says the theft was discovered on Monday.

The bowl is from a Spanish mission on the Ocklawaha River and dates back to the 1600s. A bell that was next to the bowl wasn't taken.

Mitchell says the wooden sign was used at Silver Springs from the 1930s to the 1950s.

He says a museum patron is offering the reward. Anyone with information can contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office.