A video argues that artifacts excavated at Garden Creek match Spanish accounts of Cofitachequi, visited by Hernando de Soto in 1540. The accounts describe a temple on a mound, wooden chests holding elite remains beneath carved figures, cane shields decorated with pearls and mother-of-pearl, and more than 12 horse loads of pearls reported by de Soto’s party. Garden Creek finds include copper objects, animal figurines, burned materials and four metal balls, which the video presents as evidence of de Soto’s visit. The identification remains disputed: several mound sites could be Cofitachequi, and neither the burning nor the balls has been conclusively tied to the expedition. European objects may also have reached Indigenous trade networks before 1540.
Video argues Garden Creek matches De Soto’s Cofitachequi account
United StatesExcavation
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Hernando de Soto’s party approached Cofitachequi on May 1, 1540. Spanish accounts describe a mound temple, elite burials in wooden chests beneath carved wooden figures, and cane shields decorated with pearls and mother-of-pearl.
- The figure of more than 12 horse loads describes treasure that de Soto’s party reported at Cofitachequi; it is not the quantity of pearls excavated at Garden Creek.
- Garden Creek excavations recovered copper objects, animal figurines, burned cultural material and four metal balls. The video interprets the burned material and balls as evidence of de Soto’s expedition.
- Garden Creek’s identification as Cofitachequi remains disputed. The Archaeology article notes that several mound sites in the river valley could fit the description.
- Burn damage and the four metal balls do not independently establish who burned the site or whether the balls belong to de Soto’s 1540 expedition. European objects could have reached Indigenous communities through trade networks.
Sources
bibliotecapleyades.net
Linked in video description
independent.academia.edu
Linked in video description
institutefornaturalphilosophy.org
Linked in video description
The Lady of Cofitachequiscpronet.com
by C SNYDER · Cited by 5 — On May 1, 1540, Hernando de Soto and his army approached the first major town of Cofitachequi, one of the South's wealthiest and most storied Native.
Cofitachequien.wikipedia.org
Atop this mound was a large temple on which the revered dead of Cofitachequi was kept, as well as wealth such as pearls and deerskin, and weapons.
Searching for Lost Cities - An Enduring Chiefdomarchaeology.org
Several mound sites in the river valley might have been the town de Soto knew as Cofitachequi. “It's not easy to figure out where Cofitachequi was,” says ...
De Soto and the Lady of Cofitachequi – Behind the Columnsdigital.library.sc.edu
De Soto appears to have believed that Cofitachequi was in fact the legendary city of gold. When he appeared along the Wateree River, the native ...
Hernando de Soto Visits Cofitachequi The Spanish ...resources.finalsite.net
Hernando de Soto was determined to find more pearls and riches in Cofitachequi. He even went so far as to search the temples.
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