La Sociedad de la Entrada 1598

A few weeks ago I got an email from Dave Poulin in New Mexico asking to include Calderon's Company in his links. The least I can do refer back to the Sociedad de la Entrada. There are few enough of us of like mind out there, and I'm always glad correspond with them.

"De Soto's Footsteps: New Archaeological Evidence from Georgia" at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

I've been following the progress of the recent De Soto excavations in Georgia for some time now and I came across this news item, the other day:

http://www.accessatlanta.com/AccessAtlanta-sharing_/3-exhibits-to-keep-556833.html

"De Soto's Footsteps: New Archaeological Evidence from Georgia" at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

In a photo at the beginning of this modest-sized but fascinating exhibit, Ellen Vaughn, then a high school senior, holds a tiny glass bead in the palm of her hand. Her 2006 unearthing of the red, white and blue orb, in South Georgia's Telfair County, was the first clear evidence that Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto may have taken a different route through the region starting in 1540 than history has recorded.

Or so Fernbank's lead archaeologist, Dennis Blanton, concluded, as the earth yielded more trade beads -- plus pottery, pipes and stone tools -- during that summer's dig and subsequent ones.

"Each time we come, new questions are raised, and we feel an obligation to come back and try and answer those," Blanton says in a five-minute video that's one of the exhibit highlights.

Beyond tracking the conquistador and his small army -- which was searching for food, information and riches -- the exhibit provides a intriguing glimpse at the archaeological process. There's information here appropriate for students age 6 through high school.

Getting the chance to study seven of the glass beads and other discoveries in a viewfinder doubtlessly will make some of the younger visitors take trowels and brushes to their back yards as soon as they get home.

Through March 1. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. $15 adults, $14 students/seniors, $13 ages 3-12, free members and ages 2 and under. 767 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-929-6300, www.fernbankmuseum.org.

I'm glad to see the artifacts going on exhibition. I don't know if I'll get up to ATL anytime soon, so if anyone does let me know how it is. The Museum's website shows a photo of beads, mostly faceted chevrons, but the article mentions metal objects.

http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/exhibitions/special/DeSoto/

Drake's Raid 2010 Video

Not the best quality either in terms of video,(w- no sound), or combat as its a rather ragged volley. But still where else can you see reenactors shooting down the middle of the street?


Sir Francis Drake's Raid 2010 - Musket volley
http://vimeo.com/12372554

Drake's Raid 2010

Long time, no blog.

I missed the mayhem again this year, but there are news stories and photos on the event.

In the News: Drake Takes City Once Again
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-06-06/drake-takes-city-once-again

Re-enactment of Sir Francis Drake's Raid on St. Augustine
http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/category.asp?eventID=1018787&CategoryID=17901

Drake's Raid 2010
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wskunze/sets/72157624218137736/

In the News: Influential local: Juan Ponce de Leon

Influential local: Juan Ponce de Leon
The News-Press - Fort Myers,FL,USA

"November 14, 2009 1:10 AM — Everything changed after Juan Ponce de Leon sailed along the southwest coast of a place he thought was an island and dubbed "La Florida," or land of flowers..."


OK, its not really "News' as such, more of a local interest background story. It's unusual for two things, first that it even mentions Ponce's 1521 colonization attempt, and secondly that it does not mention the "Fountain of Youth " story at all. I've got a couple of minor quibbles with the piece. In particular the 'shot in the butt' line at the end, whist mildly amusing in an otherwise pretty dry account. The historical record, limited though it is might be twisted to imply such an injury occurred, but its a pretty weak basis to make such a statement.

Oviedo:

"and he [PdL] escaped wounded grievously by an arrow;"

Herrera -c. 1601: (Probably echoing and embellishing Oviedo without any additional source)

"and he [PdL] wounded in the thigh..."

From "History of Juan Ponce de Leon's Voyages to Florida Source Records " by T. Fredrick Davis 1935

In the News: Excavation finds in Telfair could rewrite history on DeSoto

More news of the recent excavations in Georgia, in particular some of the arguments for and against the evidence of its being a De Soto contact site.


Excavation finds in Telfair could rewrite history on DeSoto
Macon Telegraph - Macon,GA,USA

" A Telfair County archaeological site has yielded the largest number of early Spanish artifacts ever found outside Florida, prompting its lead archaeologist to conclude that it – and not Macon – was a location visited by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto....We think DeSoto would have headed to the Fall Line where villages were,” said Marvin Smith, an archaeologist at Valdosta State University. ..."

Of particular note the last line of the story:

"Blanton said Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta plans to open an exhibit in April or May featuring items found at the excavation."

Old Florida Festival Report Part 1

I spent last weekend at the Collier County Museum's Old Florida Festival. I had a good if exhausting time. In the "yes, I am somebody" category, I managed along with our new recruit Carlos and a Cub Scout to get our picture in the paper on Sunday, page 3 no less! I doesn't appear to have made to the Naples News on-line edition so here are photos of the article.