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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Sat Feb 19, 2022, 07:38 PM Feb 2022

Arizona archaeologist says she's found artifacts linked to famed 1540 expedition

A Tucson archaeologist has unveiled a discovery in Santa Cruz County that she thinks could rewrite the history of the Coronado Expedition. Deni Seymour said she has unearthed hundreds of artifacts linked to the 16th century Spanish expedition, including pieces of iron and copper crossbow bolts, distinctive caret-headed nails, a medieval horseshoe and spur, a sword point and bits of chain mail armor.

The "trophy artifact" is a bronze wall gun — more than 3 feet long and weighing roughly 40 pounds — found sitting on the floor of a structure that she said could be proof of the oldest European settlement in the continental United States.

In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. The two-year journey took them as far north and east as present-day Kansas and brought them into contact — and often conflict — with centuries-old Indigenous cultures along the way.

Along with the central structure where the wall gun was found, she said she has identified what appear to be six surrounding lookout stations, three of which show "clear evidence of being attacked." The Spanish "had a major presence here, and they had major conflicts with the natives here," Seymour said. " Clusters of lead shot and distinctive Sobaipuri arrowheads tell the story of their final confrontation, which sent the Spaniards retreating back to the south.

"We have clear evidence of battle," said Seymour. "There's no question." Based on the site's location and the items she has found, she is convinced the outpost was routed not by the Opata people who once dominated what is now Sonora but by the Sobaipuri, whose direct descendants include the Tohono Oʼodham at San Xavier.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronado-expedition-1540-artifatcs-found-arizona-archaeologist/

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Arizona archaeologist says she's found artifacts linked to famed 1540 expedition (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Feb 2022 OP
Did he find this? El Supremo Feb 2022 #1
She. Ptah Feb 2022 #2
It belongs in a museum. Orrex Feb 2022 #7
Fascinating. Thanks for posting this. K&R crickets Feb 2022 #3
She seems to have a full sized ego LOL Kali Feb 2022 #4
She should have stayed local Ptah Feb 2022 #9
and making her announcement at a paid event is pretty tacky Kali Feb 2022 #10
What a discovery! SergeStorms Feb 2022 #5
Very interesting! burrowowl Feb 2022 #6
Reminiscent of Aguirre, Wrath of God peppertree Feb 2022 #8

Kali

(55,741 posts)
4. She seems to have a full sized ego LOL
Sat Feb 19, 2022, 09:18 PM
Feb 2022
This is a history-changing site," said Seymour, who touts herself as the Sherlock Holmes of history. "It's unquestionably Coronado.

Ptah

(33,493 posts)
9. She should have stayed local
Sat Feb 19, 2022, 10:24 PM
Feb 2022

she should be touting herself as the Sheriff Joanna Brady of history.

SergeStorms

(19,312 posts)
5. What a discovery!
Sat Feb 19, 2022, 09:20 PM
Feb 2022

Her life just changed forever, and the story of Coronado can be rewritten, and finished.

What an incredible find.

Thanks for posting, left-of-center2012.

peppertree

(22,850 posts)
8. Reminiscent of Aguirre, Wrath of God
Sat Feb 19, 2022, 10:23 PM
Feb 2022

Well - a watered-down, non-tropical version of the story anyway.

So many conquistadores were.

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