Mission San Luis: a visit to the Apalachee homeland

UWF field school students in front of the San Luis fort.

On Thursday, Pensacola Colonial Frontiers field school students joined students in the other UWF terrestrial field schools in a trek east to Mission San Luis in Tallahassee, the reconstructed capital of the Apalachee province between 1656 and 1704 (and possible birthplace of some of Mission Escambe's population).  The visit was highlighted by meeting Director of Archaeology Dr. Bonnie McEwan at the archaeology laboratory, and a special guided tour of the lab and site by Senior Archaeologist Jerry Lee, who has been conducting excavations at the site for twenty years.  Pictures from the day are below.

Students inside the reconstructed Apalachee council house.

Archaeologist Jerry Lee explains the archaeological map of the Council House.

In front of the reconstructed Franciscan convento.

Jerry shows the centerline of the original San Luis church, offset from the reconstruction.

Students enjoy a little atlatl (spear-thrower) practice next to the fort.

 All photos below by Jen Knutson.

Colonial Frontiers student Nicole Capitano throws a spear; Campus Survey student Cole Smith to left.

Jerry Lee holding a small Apalachee pot recovered from a clay borrow pit next to the deputy governor's house.

John Worth and Bonnie McEwan in the San Luis lab.

Cole Smith perusing the lab collections.

Melissa Maynard looking at Spanish majolica dishes.

Melodi Hacker checking out assorted Spanish ceramics.

UWF field school students inspecting the artifact collections.