Lay of the Land

On the Trails of De Soto and Coronado

The most important events in the European conquest of what is now the United States were the expeditions of de Soto and Coronado. At about the same time (1539-1543) these intrepid conquerors blazed trails though much of the country, leaving behind a path of death and destruction among the Natives. De Soto went from Florida through the Southeastern United States into Texas, and subsequently the expedition’s survivors exited down the Mississippi River. Coronado’s entrada crossed the American Southwest and got as far east as central Kansas, only a few hundred miles from de Soto’s deepest penetration of the continent.

Despite years of study and informed speculation as well as contemporary chronicles, we are still unsure of either route and of all the places they visited. In this issue of American Archaeology (see “Searching For De Soto,” page 33) we examine the formidable problems involved in determining de Soto’s route. This is a mystery archaeology can and should solve. If only archaeologists can locate Mabila, the site in Alabama of de Soto’s most destructive battle, and Casqui, the first settlement he encountered west of the Mississippi, the rest of the route should fall into place. Casqui is probably Parkin State Archaeological Park in Arkansas, but only more excavations can prove it. The location of Mabila is more difficult. New excavations are badly needed to determine both locations, and a systematic search is likely to yield dramatic results.

Meanwhile, in Albuquerque, archaeologists are using remote sensing technology to find Coronado’s metal artifacts, which helps them identify the pueblos his army occupied and sacked. This kind of technology could also be a big help along de Soto’s route. By preserving some of the most important sites along both routes, the Conservancy is playing a key role in this great search for a critical part of our nation’s history.

Mark Michel, President