Introduction - Appleton Museum of Art

Introduction
The Appleton Museum of Art is the first to exhibit treasured artifacts discovered in
Florida from one of Spain’s earliest Royal expeditions to the New World. This never
before seen collection of rare 16th century artifacts includes beautiful Murano glass
fabricated in Italy during the early 1500s as well as the largest cache of medieval coins
found on the American mainland so far. The collection contains very rare King Ferdinand
and Queen Isabella related coins, Spanish armor items and artifacts confirmed to have
been made in Spain from 1471-1474 during the reign of King Enrique IV. These lost
archaeological treasures are associated with Conquistador Hernando De Soto’s famous
expedition to the New World and his visitation with the Potano Indians. This exhibition
is a part of our state’s 500th Anniversary Celebration of Ponce de Leon’s discovery of
Florida, commemorating the state’s rich heritage and diverse cultural history in 2013.
The artifacts are from the oldest confirmed New World contact site in the terrestrial
United States. In 1539 Conquistador Hernando De Soto led a Royal expedition to the
New World. This was arguably one of the most important events in the history of the
United States and the most important in the Southeast United States. There was no
physical evidence of his nearly 4000 mile desperate journey except a small collection
of items which included a coin and crossbow point from later in his expedition. Those
few items were found at a construction site during the 1980s in Tallahassee, Florida.
De Soto continued on his exploration for nearly three years and was the first European
to discover and cross the Mississippi River.
Major Discovery in Marion County
A team of international historians and archaeologists have been investigating this
De Soto site and the lost Franciscan Mission of San Buenaventura since its discovery in
2005 by Dr. Ashley White, from the Governing Board of the Archaeological Institute
of America, Dr. Michele White, author and bioarchaeologist and Ethan White, from
Trinity Catholic High School Honors History Programs. This site in Marion County,
Florida is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the early history
and exploration of the United States. The archaeological discovery has unearthed rare
Spanish artifacts dating more than 500 years old. This Potano Indian village site lies
north of Ocala and has been officially recorded as the MR03538 site by the Bureaus
of Archaeological Research and Historical Preservation within the Florida Department
of State. Historical evidence confirms Spanish missionary activity began at this Native
American site as early as 1580.
Artifacts from the discovery are unique among other ancient Florida locations considered
to be from the First Spanish Period. The numbers of medieval coins found at the
clandestine site appear to be more than all of the coins found at all of the mission sites
in the American mainland thus far. A few types of these rare maravedis coins were
also discovered at the La Isabel settlement in the Dominican Republic founded by
Christopher Columbus in 1493. The ancient coins found at the Marion County site display
the names of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, the monarchs
that united the largest kingdoms of Spain by marrying in 1469 and ruling equally. King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella’s efforts were crucial to the discovery of America.
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Unknown artist; Wedding Portrait of King Ferdinand I of Aragon and
Queen Isabella of Castile, c.1469
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Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He
led the first European expedition deep into the territory of what
is now the modern-day United States and was the first European
documented to have crossed the Mississippi River.
Hernando de Soto was born around 1497 to parents who
were minor nobles of modest means in Extremadura, an area
in southwest Spain. Generations of his family had joined
the Christians in the fight against the Muslims during the
reconquista, Spain’s long battle to recapture its lands from the
Moorish invaders from North Africa.
De Soto came of age during the time of William Shakespeare
and at age 19 left on his adventure to the New World supposedly
with only a sword and shield.
He explored areas of Central and South America and became known as a very
accomplished swordsman, lancer and horseman. He was well respected as a soldier and
became an admired leader and captain. His men believed he was afraid of nothing.
Inspired by his contemporaries Juan Ponce de León, who discovered Florida and
Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who first sailed the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans to reach the Orient, he wanted to lead his own expedition.
Emperor Charles V named De Soto governor of Cuba and gave him permission to
conquer La Florida. He left Spain in April 1538, stopped in Cuba and headed to Florida
with 700 soldiers, 200 horses and months of provisions including a herd of Spanish
long-leg pigs.
A monumental undertaking, De Soto’s North American expedition ranged throughout
the southeastern United States as he searched for gold and a passage to China. His 4000
mile journey lasted nearly four years and covered a vast region that today holds ten states.
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De Soto died in 1542 on the banks of the Mississippi River. His remaining number of
soldiers now reduced to less than half of his original army. They had no horses and were
facing a bleak future. Over the next months they built keeled boats and sailed down
the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico and eventually, after a long exhausting navigation,
arrived in the city of Pánuco, Mexico. Eleven more men were killed on the journey home
during Native attacks and many more were seriously injured. The adventure was over.
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De Soto’s Expedition
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The Marion County Location
Historical Evidence
Hernando de Soto’s expedition is primarily known to
archaeologists and historians through four accounts or
chronicles. Three are confirmed as first hand. These are
The Relation of the Island of Florida by Luys Hernandez
de Biedma, The Account by Gentleman From Elvas, and
The account of Hernando de Soto’ s official secretary
by Rodrigo Rangel. The fourth document considered
a second hand romantic interpretation is known as La
Florida by Garcilaso de la Vega.
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Each of these narrative documents offers some
details and combined in a Mosaic or braided form
provides an accurate reference. Time and distance in
these documents require conversion for accurate
reconstruction of De Soto’s route. Crucial to this is
the understanding that the Old Style Julian Calendar was in use until 1582 and that
Spaniards used different forms of league measurements. On July 26th of the Old Style
Julian Calendar, De Soto’s expedition entered the swamp and peat bog bordering Florida’s
Withlacoochee River. The aboriginals continuously ambushed De Soto and his advance
guard by shooting arrows and then vanishing into the thick surroundings. After a difficult
crossing over the Withlacoochee De Soto made camp at “Ocale” and sent word for his
army to follow. The location of this ancient village is southwest of the modern city of
Ocala in Marion County, Florida. Over the next week of bivouac the natives injured
and killed several of the soldiers. What followed next can only be described as a terror
campaign which included psychological warfare orchestrated by the aboriginal warriors.
They captured and beheaded two of De Soto’s men and when the army retrieved the
bodies for burial, the natives returned during the dark of night and dug up the corpses.
The army awoke to the horrible sights and sounds of birds eating their comrades, which
had been cut into small pieces and hung in the trees like ornaments, according to the
chronicles. After enough corn was found for the army to be maintained, De Soto made the
decision to continue northward. On August 11th De Soto left the main part of the army
behind and he continued on with an advance party of one hundred crossbow infantry
men and fifty knights with lances on horseback. By nightfall the chronicles confirm they
reached the village of Itarraholata and found an ample corn supply. Itarraholata would
have been within Marion County, Florida on the same latitude as Ocala, but just to
the west.
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The next day De Soto came to the main area of Potano. The Potano like the Itarraholata
are considered part of the Alachua archaeological culture and they built their villages on
the edges of lakes and prairies. De Soto stayed with the Potano and his army encamped
among their string of villages which were along the wetlands of Orange Lake and the
connected Black Sink Prairie. Site MR03538 is on the border of the Black Sink Prairie
on the southern edge of the Orange Lake wetland. After leaving the Potano De Soto
continued north and one week later he sent eight horsemen to retrieve the rest of the
army, which had been camped south of Potano. The chronicles say that then Luis
de Moscoso, the master of camp, led the army to meet De Soto and marched to and
bivouacked in Potano. Moscoso and the army did not rejoin De Soto until September
4th. Undoubtedly and without discrepancies the historical documents confirm Hernando
de Soto had contact with the people of Potano in the area of MR03538.
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De Soto European Artifacts 1539
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Three rare coins identified as 1. Ferdinand and Isabella, 1497-1504, cuarto de 4 maravedi,
Granada mint uncertain. 2. Ferdinand and Isabella, 1497-1504, cuarto de 4 maravedi,
mint Cuenca. 3. Enrique IV, 1454-1474, blanca, 1471-74 mint uncertain and examples
iron mail (chain type) armor.
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Animal Remains
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There is also evidence of European imported animals supported by the discovery of the
(Sus scofa) domestic pig remains, introduced to Florida by Hernando de Soto.
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De Soto European Artifacts 1539
Rare glass treasures recovered at the site are described as Nueva Cadiz beads dated to 1520,
as well as, very beautiful faceted glass chevron trade beads with seven layers dated from the
early 16th century and rare carnelian India cut quartz. These reddish orange stones were
originally described as bloodstones before this term was used to define modern jasper.
Christopher Columbus is known to have presented an island Chief with a “collar of good
bloodstones,” also known as red chalcedony or sard.
Nueva Cadiz
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7 layer chevrons beads and orange carnelian images
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Spanish Medieval Weaponry
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Medieval lead shot of the caliber from matchlock firearms and iron crossbow points (bolts)
were recovered from the site. The crossbow was such an accurate and deadly weapon that
in 1139 Pope Innocent II outlawed its use against Christians.
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Mission San Buenaventura de Potano
The lost Franciscan mission of San Buenaventura de Potano 1607 - c. 1617
Historical documentation confirms the presence of several nearby Spanish missions in
the chain that surrounded Gainesville and also stretched south into Central Florida.
Ethno-historical evidence tells us that a mission visita (mission without a resident priest)
known as Apula was established in 1580 in the town of Potano, known to have been
visited by Hernando de Soto, but there was little known of it. We know from historical
documents that the Alachua County mission of San Francisco de Potano was founded
in 1606 by the Franciscans Father Martín Prieto and Father Alonso Serrano. It was the
first doctrina (a mission with a resident priest) in Florida west of the St. Johns River. The
mission was at the south edge of present-day San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.
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Soon after the establishment of the mission of San Francisco de Potano in 1606 three
other missions were constructed. Santa Ana de Potano and San Miguel de Potano were
finished first and San Buenaventura de Potano was established a short time later with
Fray Francisco Pareja. Together the missions served about 1,200 Indians. The artifact
assemblage from the Marion County archaeology site leads to the conclusion that this was
the lost Franciscan mission of San Buenaventura established in 1607 that was constructed
at the location of the previous visita of Apula in the town of Potano. Missionary activities
among the Potano were relocated over time west and north of Orange Lake, eventually
to the San Francisco mission in Alachua County. Spanish ranching activities continued
at the Marion County site into the late 17th century.
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Blueprint of the aisled church at San Buenaventura de Potano
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Ground penetrating radar image of post holes spaced at 32.9 inches
(Spanish vara measurement)
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Mission San Buenaventura
European Artifacts
A large cache of Spanish maravedis coins were excavated at the mission site. These coins
were minted in various places throughout Spain during the realms of Felipe II (15661598), Felipe III (1598-1621) and Felipe IV (1621-1665). There are also several types of
imported European ceramics within the date range of other seventeenth century mission
sites. The discovery of Spanish majolica, a late 16th to early 17th century type made
in Seville, called Ichtucknee Blue on White is significant as it has only been found at
other Franciscan missions. The plain blue glass trade beads are an important indicator of
Spanish mission activity and have been recovered at numerous 17th century missions.
The beautiful multi-layered blue, red and white glass beads are from a known type of
rosary gifted to select Franciscans, as well several other religious orders. This style of glass
Rosary originated from the Venetian Island of Murano and was first produced in the
1400s but this rare type called the Franciscan Crown or Seraphic dates from ca. 1680 to
1740. These dates are beyond the expected terminal date of the San Buenavenura mission,
but within the date range of Buenaventura’s nearby doctrina mission San Francisco de
Potano and the Spanish ranching activity involved with the Hacienda de la Chua, both
which continued operation in the area into the early 1700s.
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Cache of Medieval Spanish coins and Spanish Majolica
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Late Mission Period Franciscan Crown Rosary Beads
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Plain Blue and Non-colored Mission Period Beads
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Native Americans
Due to the fresh water springs and limestone catchment basins, Paleo-Indians occupied
these areas as early as at least 13,000 years ago. We know the Potano tribe lived in northcentral Florida at the time of first European contact. Their territory included what is now
Alachua County, the northern half of Marion County and the western part of Putnam
County. The Potano culture was preceded by the early Alachua culture that began around
700 AD. The Alachua culture was preceded first by the Cades Pond culture 200 -700 AD
and the Deptford culture which was established as early as 800 BC. The Potano were
among the approximate 35 chiefdoms of the Timucua people and spoke one of the 10
dialects of the Timucua language.
Theodore de Bry 1591 etching from paintings by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues
from the French expeditions to Florida in 1562 and 1564, color added by Dr. Michele White 2012.
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The Potano were a semi-agricultural people and ate many foods native to North Central
Florida. They planted maize (corn), beans, squash and various vegetables as part of their
diet. In addition to agriculture, the Potano men would hunt game including alligators,
they also fished in the many streams and lakes in the area; and collected freshwater and
marine shellfish. The women gathered wild fruits, palm berries, acorns and nuts; and
baked bread made from the koonti (Zamia integrifolia) root starch. Meat was cooked by
boiling or over an open fire known as the barbacoa, the origin of the word barbecue. Fish
were filleted and dried or boiled. Broths were made from meat and nuts.
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A black tea called “black drink” (or “white drink” because of its purifying effects) served
a ceremonial purpose and was a highly caffeinated Cassina tea, brewed from the leaves of
the Ilex vomitoria tree. The tea was only consumed by males in good status with the tribe.
The drink was posited to have an effect of purification and those who consumed it often
vomited immediately. This drink was integral to most Potano rituals and hunts.
In 1539, Hernando de Soto led his army through the western parts of the Timucua
territory, stopping in a series of Native American villages including the Ocale, Potano,
Northern Utina and Yustaga branches of the Timucua on his way to the Apalachee
domain near modern day Tallahassee.
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Ilex vomitoria tree found on the White / De Soto site
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Naval Stores Industry
In the early 1800’s a naval stores industry operated on the archaeological site. This quaint
term comes from the urgent need to harvest turpentine oleoresin from the longleaf (Pinus
palustris) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) to weatherproof wooden ships.
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The old turpentine collecting pots made of fired clay have been collected throughout the
site as well cat faces. A cat face is the amber rosin soaked diagonal cut surface that remains
on ancient or dead trees. The side of the tree has been flattened with cuts slanting toward
the center of the surface often with remaining pieces of tin that directed the turpentine
flow into the hanging ceramic pots.
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In Conclusion
“Evidence demonstrates the Marion County archaeological site had at least 3 historicperiod presences, one during the early De Soto occupation, followed by use during the
17th century mission period and then later as a Spanish ranching outpost. The artifacts
confirm that the site was abandoned during the 1660s a time associated with the end of
the Timucuan Indian Rebellion.
By that time nearly 100 percent of Florida’s aboriginal population had been impacted
by or fallen to epidemics introduced by the first European explorers and the zoonotic
diseases carried by their infected livestock.
Bioanthropological evidence and historical documents reveal a horrible story of
devastation and annihilation emerging in the 1500s which involved outbreaks of deadly
smallpox, measles, bubonic and pneumonic plagues, influenzas, scarlet fever, diphtheria,
typhoid fever, cholera, typhus, malaria and yellow fever.
The bloody and painful history of America begins here in Florida long before Jamestown
and Plymouth were even thoughts. Florida is the location of the first true American
Thanksgiving, that was celebrated in 1564 with the landing of the French Protestant
pilgrims as well the first Christmas observance by Hernando de Soto and his army during
their 1539 winter encampment. Florida is also the location of the first Catholic parish
mass that was performed in 1565 at the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine.
During this most early time in American history, royal knights wearing armor from
France and Spain clashed here in a Holy War, all the while besieged with tropical
diseases, poisonous snakes, alligators, pirates, starvation and even cannibalism. It is hard
to find a more exciting story than that, even in an adventure novel.
It is with great hope that this important archaeological discovery will bring to life some
of America’s lost history which disappeared nearly 500 years ago into the dark swamps
and jungles of Florida.”
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Dr. Ashley White, Archaeological Project Director
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Burial of Hernando de Soto
in the Mississippi 1542
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William A. Crafts 1876
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