Hernando de Soto Among the Apalachee

Book excerpt: Charles Ewen and John Hann chronicle the discovery and excavation of the only known campsite of Hernando de Soto's ten-state odyssey during the sixteenth century. Located in downtown Tallahassee in sight of the state capitol, the site was rescued at the last minute from developers - a story almost as compelling as that of de Soto's expedition. The book has three parts: historical background, archaeological excavations at the site, and a retranslation of the sixteenth-century narratives relating to the winter encampment. A prologue and epilogue fit the work into the wider context of the Contact Period. Of particular interest is the authors' discussion of the discovery, excavation, and preservation of the site. Showing how luck and timing are crucial factors in some important discoveries, they describe the interaction of archaeologists with private developers, state and city government, and the public and the media. Although it contains information that will be useful to scholars, the book is written in a popular style that makes it accessible to general readers.