List of sites and peoples visited by the Hernando de Soto Expedition

This is a list of sites and peoples visited by the Hernando de Soto Expedition in the years 1539–1543. In May 1539, de Soto left Havana, Cuba, with nine ships, over 620 men and 220 surviving horses and landed at Charlotte Harbor, Florida. This began his three-year odyssey through the Southeastern North American continent, from which de Soto and a large portion of his men would not return.

They met many varied Native American groups, most of them bands and chiefdoms related to the widespread Mississippian culture. Only a few of these ancestral cultures survived into the seventeenth century, or their descendants combined as historic tribes known to later Europeans. Others have been recorded only in the written historical accounts of de Soto's expedition.

Florida

Uzita Mocoso Urriparacoxi Timucua Ocale Acuera Potano Alachua culture Northern Utina Yustaga Uzachile Anhaica Apalachee Narváez expedition's "Bay of Horses"

Georgia

The peoples the expedition encountered in Georgia were speakers of Muskogean languages. The expedition made two journeys through Georgia - the first heading northeast to Cofitachequi in South Carolina, and the second heading southwest from Tennessee, at which point they visited the Coosa chiefdom.

First Leg Capachequi Ichisi Ocute Hitchiti After leaving Ocute, the expedition crossed the "Wilderness of Ocute" (the modern-day Savannah River basin) to arrive in present-day South Carolina. Artifacts from the first leg have been found in Telfair County, Georgia.

Second Leg

All territory the expedition crossed through during this leg was under the control of Coosa, a country with territory in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Coosa Little Egypt, the likely site of the Coosa capital Sixtoe Mound Bell Field Mound Site Talimachusi Etowah Indian Mounds (Itaba)

South Carolina The primary destination of the expedition in South Carolina was Cofitachequi. Some of the peoples of this country were likely the ancestors of the modern Cherokee and Catawba. Hymahi Cofitachequi, likely located at the present Mulberry Plantation The Lady of Cofitachequi Talimeco

North Carolina Joara, near Morganton, North Carolina Cheraw (tribe) Chelaque

Tennessee

Chiska Chiaha Coste Tali Chalahume Satapo

Alabama Parts of Coosa extended into Alabama. The other primary chiefdom encountered by the expedition was that of Tuscaluza. The peoples encountered in Alabama were likely the ancestors of the modern Creek, Alabama, and Choctaw. Abihka Chief Tuskaloosa Mabila Tali

Mississippi

Chicaza Quizquiz Walls phase Quigate Quigualtam Natchez people

Arkansas Aquixo Casqui, believed by many archaeologists to be the same as the site of the Parkin Archeological State Park. Pacaha, believed by many archaeologists to be the Nodena site. Chaguate Coligua Tunica people Tula people Anilco, possibly the Menard complex in the southeastern corner of the state. Guachoya Quapaw Caddoans Aays Caddo confederacy. Naguatex

Texas All the peoples which the expedition encountered in Texas were the ancestors of the modern Caddo, especially the Hasinai and Kadohadacho confederacies. Intentionally misled by their Caddo guides, the expedition wandered around Texas while only encountering a few major Caddo centers, though there were many that lay not far beyond where they traveled. Eventually they were forced to turn around after reaching the River of Daycao, variously identified as the Brazos, Trinity, or even the Colorado. Beyond Daycao, the chroniclers of the expedition claimed that people did not grow maize and subsisted off the land as hunter-gatherers.

As this leg of the expedition took place after the death of both de Soto and Juan Ortiz, his primary translator, the records are more sparse and reveal less information than in earlier parts of the journey. Caddo Nadaco (Nondacao) Hasinai Soacatino Adai (Native American culture)

See also Alabama language Caddoan languages Cherokee language Chickasaw language Choctaw language Creek language Etowah Indian Mounds Hitchiti Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park Lake Village, Arkansas Mississippian culture Moundville Archaeological Site Ocmulgee National Monument Pisgah phase Southeastern Ceremonial Complex Timucua language Yamasee Yazoo tribe

References