by: Contact Archeology Inc. (CAI)
An Independent Research and Education Group
CAI is a federally recognized 501-C-3 group of researchers comprised of professional people bent on approaching the mysteries of history without the restraints of political organizations.
One of our research projects involves very early European contacts with Native groups in North America, one of which is that of the 1559 Spanish Expedition to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico lead by Tristan de Luna. That colony was located somewhere on Pensacola Bay in northwest Florida.
The story of the expedition is fascinating. The Luna Colony location is yet to be archeologically proven. There have been a number of claims as to it’s location. None have produced the archeological in-ground features needed to definitively solve the mystery of the colony location.
The required archeological features to prove the Luna Colony must be Spanish burials, structures, fire hearths, and refuse pits. None of these features have been found on any site on Pensacola Bay, therefore no group can legitimately claim discovery of the Luna Colony site.
CAI is not claiming to have found the colony site, however we are claiming to have a legitimate hypothesis of the location of the colony. We are suggesting that it could be on Bayou Chico on the north side of Pensacola Bay.
Archeology is a complex science. The tools of the science are not just shovels and trowels or even good media manipulation. The research tools include historic documents, field notes from researchers who came before us, modern technology, cooperation of local people, as well as luck and intuition.
The following are considerations that might lead us to the Luna Colony location:
The 1,500 people on the Luna Expedition with all their animals needed water … a lot of it. A horse needs about 10 gallons of water per day to live. There were hundreds of horses on the Luna Expedition. People also need to drink water and cook and wash with water. The famous springs on Bayou Chico could have easily provided it. Hydrologically, it is known that springs flow or seep from the base of prehistoric terraces. That is the situation in the case of the headwaters of Bayou Chico.
The Spanish army of Galvez in 1781 demonstrated that they could encamp on Bayou Chico with their 8,000 soldiers and their animals on Bayou Chico. Their fleet of 11 ships also anchored off the mouth of Bayou Chico in relatively deep water. Could the Luna fleet have also chosen this deep water as their anchorage as well? It is important to note that the United States Navy has discovered metal anomalies off the mouth Bayou Chico that were never ground proofed. Are they from the Galvez fleet or even the Luna fleet? That is not known at this point in time.
The American army led by Andrew Jackson also encamped on Bayou Chico in the early 1800s with his 4,000 soldiers and animals. This reinforces the point that this area is preferential for large numbers of people with
their animals to settle or encamp. Did the Luna Expedition come to the same conclusion?
We do not know at this time. CAI is conducting archeological fieldwork in an attempt to clarify the situation.
CAI excavations on Pensacola Bay near the mouth of Bayou Texar.
Historic island on Bayou Chico.
The documents of the Luna Expedition indicate that the colony was located in the woods. They noted that they daily made a pilgrimage to a cross that they had constructed on the shore of Pensacola Bay to say their prayers.
A Spanish map of 1756 notes a “Point of the Cross” at the mouth of Bayou Chico. The photo above is located in the possible area of the location of the “Point of the Cross” at the mouth of Bayou Chico.
It we could locate the Luna Colony on Bayou Chico it could strengthen the hypothesis that this is the location of the “Point of the Cross.”
Flying the drone over Bayou Chico.
The drone supervisor controlling the machine.
Flying the drone over Bayou Chico. Members of the CAI group looking on.
Upper reaches of Bayou Chico where Galvez and Jackson encamped due to the freshwater springs.
Was Luna there too? We do not know at this point but we are looking.
Upper reaches of Bayou Chico where Galvez and Jackson encamped due to the
freshwater springs.
The upper region of Bayou Chico where we know that the Galvez and Jackson armies encamped. The total number of people in both encampments was approximately 12,000 people plus their animals. The freshwater was abundant there. It sustained the armies. Might it have sustained the Luna Colony as well?
The upper region of Bayou Chico where we know that the Galvez and Jackson armies encamped. The total number of people in both encampments was approximately 12,000 people plus their animals. The freshwater was abundant there. It sustained the armies. Might it have sustained the Luna Colony as well?
A small seep spring at the upper portion of Bayou Chico.
A very large body of freshwater at the upper portion of Bayou Chico. The body of water represents groundwater at the base of a marine terrace that was used as a source of a white sand commercial pit. The point is that there is an abundance of freshwater at the head of Bayou Chico.
Views of the northern portion of Bayou Chico. Note that the topographic elevation increases as one moves away from the bayou. Those elevations are the locations of the Galvez and Jackson armies. Could they have been favorable to the Luna Expedition as well?
Views of the northern portion of Bayou Chico. Note that the topographic elevation increases as one moves away from the bayou. Those elevations are the locations of the Galvez and Jackson armies. Could they have been favorable to the Luna Expedition as well?