Recently, archaeologists at the Atlanta Fernbank Museum of Natural History unearthed incredible evidence that aids them in charting out Hernando de Soto’s path through the southern United States in 1540. Until now, no evidence of his journey had been found between Tallahassee and North Carolina.
Curator of the museum Dennis Blanton explains his initial feelings before engaging in the research that led up to this amazing discovery: “I was surprised to learn there is no concrete evidence in Georgia of De Soto's path from Tallahassee to North Carolina. A single bead has been found here, a bead has been found there, but nothing of this nature.”
Blanton is excited about the discovery, explaining that “what we have now is the best-documented collection of Spanish artifacts in Georgia. Many are unique and they are the only examples of certain artifacts ever found outside Florida.”
Among the artifacts discovered are glass beads and types of metal artifacts, none of which existed in Native American culture before the European invasion. These artifacts, which were uncovered somewhere near McRae, Georgia, offer compelling evidence of de Soto’s journey, considering the distinctively de Soto-nature of the archaeological sites.
This research will continue as Blanton and his fellow excavators try and map out all the specific points of de Soto’s southeastern expedition.
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