For those who are interested...........

Archaeological excavations are currently being conducted at the Martin/de
Soto site in Tallahassee, Florida as part of an archaeological field
school being jointly sponsored by the Florida Bureau of Archaeological
Research and Florida State University’s Anthropology Department. Participating
students are posting an on-line journal to inform the public about the
project’s progress. The on-line journal can be read at
http://msbar.blogspot.com/.

The Martin/de Soto site is thought to be the village of Anhaica Apalache,
once home to the Native American group known as the Apalachee. The
village was occupied for over 100 years, and according to historic
accounts, was comprised of at least 250 dwellings. Between 1539-40, the
Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his expedition of 600 men spent the
winter at this location. The site has proven to be one of the earliest
Spanish sites in the United States and the only known campsite associated
with the de Soto expedition. Rare artifacts such as chain mail armor,
glass beads, Spanish and Portuguese coins as well as Apalachee pottery,
projectile points, and gaming pieces have been excavated.


If you are the nearby area, please join Florida Bureau of Archaeological
Research Staff and FSU students on Saturday, June 9th at the Martin/de
Soto Archaeological Site between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a Public
Archaeology Day. Activities include spear throwing, open excavation
units, recovered artifacts on display, horses and pigs, projectile point
manufacturing, children’s activities, and historic home tours of the
Governor Martin House, also located on site. For more information please
visit the web site.



Andrea White M.A.

Archaeologist III

Bureau of Archaeological Research

Division of Historical Resources

R.A. Gray Building

500 S Bronough Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399

850.245.6325

Fax 850.245.6452

www.flheritage.com

http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/comments/

Physical Address:

B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology at the Governor Martin House

1001 de Soto Park Drive

Tallahassee, FL 32301