Hunting Spanish Conquistadors In North Florida

On the trail of Hernando de Soto.

The Gainesville Sun offers a great article and multimedia presentation of archaeology digs around Orange Lake, and the discovery of one of de Soto's campsites.

Several galleries of photographs are included, as well as this video, which includes discussion of 16th century Spanish equipment, including matchlock muskets.

I should note that the "curator emeritus" who opens the video makes a mistake almost immediately, referring to mounted troops as "calvary" instead of "cavalry." Calvary was, of course, where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.



I grew up in this area, and used to find Indian artifacts alongside roads after a heavy rain. Presumably these, also, were artifacts from the Potano tribes discussed in the article and video.