Finding de Soto

by Erick on November 10, 2009

Fascinating.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History archaeologist Dennis Blanton didn’t expect to be tracking Hernando de Soto’s route through South Georgia in 1540. But the more he dug at a remote site in Telfair County, the more convinced he became that he was chasing the famous yet elusive Spanish explorer.

For the longest time, people have thought de Soto crossed the Ocmulgee at Macon, but it looks like he might not have.

Incidentally, did you know the first baptism in North America took place in the 1500’s in the Ocmulgee River south of Macon? I always thought we should have a huge monument you could see for miles around to commemorate that. Preferably at the I-16/I-75 split in Macon. But I guess we’ll have to move it to Telfair County.

{ 23 comments }

Jeff November 10, 2009 at 10:57 am

On private property, paid for with private funds, feel free.

Just don’t try to get government involved in it.

Ronald Daniels November 10, 2009 at 11:00 am

Steal Telfair’s thunder, build a 50 foot monument to Eugene Talmadge.

griftdrift November 10, 2009 at 11:11 am

The monument that last year you said didn’t exist but actually does?

Erick November 10, 2009 at 2:56 pm

That’s not a monument. I’m thinking 100 foot high corinthian column with de Soto on top pouring water out over the heathen — not some cheap wooden sign.

griftdrift November 10, 2009 at 3:02 pm

The familiar argument.

1. We need this but they won’t let us.

2. Actually it’s already there.

3. Yeah, but its not good enough.

Ronald Daniels November 10, 2009 at 3:05 pm

See that’s not a religious monument, but a monument to the Spanish BDSM industry. That’s how we will get the gubbermint monies for it!

Rick Day November 10, 2009 at 7:46 pm

Look, I understand (from others) it’s HARD being in charge and all powerful and little people looking up to you all the time for decisions!

A little submission to the sting of the flogger has soothed and humbled even the most powerful civil servant, helping him focus on the next days task of managing the White Man’s World™

That monument should be someone like Goddess Amazon, one of my dear friends and holistic physician. I submit to the governor’s committee the following model for the monument to Spanish BDSM. Keeping it PG. Daddy will explain later, kids.

http://www.avalon-residenz.de/img/amazon.jpg

griftdrift November 10, 2009 at 11:33 am
griftdrift November 10, 2009 at 11:33 am
Sleepy Tom November 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Erick once again proves his madness methodology to put his form of Christianity everywhere he can…and, YES…he would gladly lobby for public tax dollars to build one.

Erick November 10, 2009 at 2:54 pm

First, that is not a monument. Second, I’m sure private funds can be raised and don’t support tax dollars being used to pay for such a thing. That’s just silly.

Sleepy Tom November 10, 2009 at 3:32 pm

So, if the City of Macon buys Christmas decorations to hang from the street light poles, you will fight against that, right?

Mad Dog November 10, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Only a cross can be a monument?

Ronald Daniels November 10, 2009 at 11:47 am

And Telfair is hardly South Georgia. It’s right at the edge of “Central Georgia.” They even have a 10 foot tall wooden Statute of Liberty.

drjay November 10, 2009 at 12:10 pm

you do realize that to most of these people it’s south ga if its south of i-20, right…

Ronald Daniels November 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm

I can’t be held accountable for the geographic ignorance of urban residents who would otherwise would have no inclination of where Telfair County was other than south of them.

I would personally expect a bit more precise description of the County’s location by the AJC – given the unique facts of this situation. Granted it makes attempt to clear this up by mentioning it’s 100 miles downriver from Macon – but that is a bit lacking. I would have less concern over it, were this not a situation where there is a disputed historical location. If this story is about anything, it’s locations and one would expect precision.

drjay November 10, 2009 at 4:11 pm

having said that telfair county seems pretty south ga to me…

Ronald Daniels November 10, 2009 at 5:17 pm

You do grasp the issues with describing a location in approximate terms when the entire article is about the location where a precise location – the irony at least?

drjay November 10, 2009 at 7:18 pm

i see your point–i guess i don’t think about it much b/c i know exactly where they are talking about and the sound of giant blowers drying peanuts pretty well screams “south ga” if you ever have any reason to be in those parts…so it’s not a horrible description…

Demonbeck November 11, 2009 at 8:39 am

From where I sit, it’s in North Georgia.

Ramblinwreck November 11, 2009 at 7:07 am

The real deciding issue is whether it is above or below the gnat line. That’s the real dividing line between North and South Georgia.

GOPGeorgia November 12, 2009 at 1:23 am

Almost everywhere in the state of Georgia is South of Walker County. There are several counties just as north as Walker, but none further unless you consider the disputed territories, currently consider by some to be part of Tennessee.

hayek_lives November 10, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Call it “The Big Dippin”

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