Spanish Artifacts
Two Spanish expeditions came deep into the interior of the current Southeastern United States during the 1500s; Hernando de Soto in 1539 and Tristan de Luna in 1559.
Archeological Excavations at an Early Mississippian Mound in Central Alabama
It was hypothesized in the early 1980s that a recently reported aboriginal mound and village site (1Ds72) in Dallas County, Alabama, might be a contact site of the sixteenth century Spanish expedition of Hernando de Soto (1539-42) (figure 1) (Curren, Little, Lankford 1981).
The Mystery of the Alabama Stone Site
On the eve of Alabama statehood, a large stone engraved with Latin inscriptions was found in the forest near Tuscaloosa.
Candlesticks of the Conquistadors: Rare Finds in Alabama
Several years ago, prior to current laws regarding human remains, collectors at site 1Ds1 found a sixteenth century brass candlestick.
Prehistoric Period Site in Central Alabama |Site: 1Wx169
We were searching for 16th century Spanish Contact sites in central Alabama.
Bone and Shell Objects, of the Prehistoric Natives of Alabama
Shells and bones… something we pick up today on the seashore or in a streambed.. We take them home and put them on a coffee table or on a book shelf, a conversation piece for visits with friends.
King Site Spanish Sword
An extraordinary artifact was found in a plowed field in a late Mississippian site (the King Site) in NW Georgia. It proved to be a Spanish sword from the mid-1500’s. Local men were walking a plowed field when they noticed a piece of iron protruding from the sandy loam. Digging into the immediate area, they found a Native…
Paleo People in Alabama
The people who lived in the late Pleistocene (circa 10-20,000 years ago) in the deep South of the current USA have always been a bit of a mystery to researchers. Where did they come from? It is as if they just showed up one day with their very fine worked stone tools and weapons. Though relatively rare in…
Innerarity Point: Mississippian Period Sites
Two very important archeological sites (Magnolia Ridge and Hickory Ridge) are located on a large peninsula extending into Perdido Bay in northwest Florida. Three phases of research have been conducted at two sites on the peninsula, a Mississippian Period village and a Mississippian burial area (circa 1500 A.D). They are separated by a creek. The research was accomplished by the University of West Florida and…
Catfish Point
The Catfish Point Site is a prehistoric site located on an eroding, low terrace along the east shore of Perdido Bay. Phase I investigations consisted of the excavation of 15 shovel tests in the site area and a shoreline artifact collection which indicated that prehistoric remains are present on the site. Prehistoric artifacts recovered consist of 102 lithic…