Papers by Willet Boyer III
The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accoun... more The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accounts of the exploration and settlement of the Southeast, is one of the named sites associated with the Hernando de Soto entrada that possesses sufficient documentary and archaeological evidence that would allow for its firm identification. The Richardson site, 8AL100, has long been known as a site which has both an early seventeenth-century Spanish and a late precontact/early contact Native American component. We contend, based on the documentary and archaeological evidence, that the Richardson site is the location of the early contact and mission-period town of Potano, and that claims made concerning the White Ranch site, 8MR3538, cannot be substantiated or verified.
The Florida Anthropologist, 2022
Fort Walton culture chronology, including the time of Lamar ceramics becoming a part of Fort Walt... more Fort Walton culture chronology, including the time of Lamar ceramics becoming a part of Fort Walton material culture, remains unsettled, as does the nature of Fort Walton culture in the lowlands south of the "Red Hills" and the region of the Apalachicola. This paper presents the results of testing and excavation of Fort Walton culture sites within Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, and a series of OSL dates returned from ceramics from these sites. The implications of the data for Fort Walton culture and chronology are discussed, and avenues for future research presented.
Southeastern Archaeology, 2022
The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accoun... more The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accounts of the exploration and settlement of the Southeast, is one of the named sites associated with the Hernando de Soto entrada that possesses sufficient documentary and archaeological evidence that would allow for its firm identification. The Richardson site, 8AL100, has long been known as a site which has both an early seventeenth-century Spanish and a late precontact/early contact Native American component. We contend, based on the documentary and archaeological evidence, that the Richardson site is the location of the early contact and mission-period town of Potano, and that claims made concerning the White Ranch site, 8MR3538, cannot be substantiated or verified.
Florida Master Site File, 2016
This report presents the archaeological and documentary evidence that the so-called "White Ranch ... more This report presents the archaeological and documentary evidence that the so-called "White Ranch Site", 8MR3538, claimed as an early contact site, in fact never existed, and that claims that it represented an early contact site should be regarded as conclusively disproven.
Southeastern Archaeology, 2022
The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accoun... more The town of Potano, refenced in sixteenth-century and in early seventeenth-century Spanish accounts of the exploration and settlement of the Southeast, is one of the named sites associated with the Hernando de Soto entrada that possesses sufficient documentary and archaeological evidence that would allow for its firm identification. The Richardson site, 8AL100, has long been known as a site which has both an early seventeenth-century Spanish and a late precontact/early contact Native American component. We contend, based on the documentary and archaeological evidence, that the Richardson site is the location of the early contact and mission-period town of Potano, and that claims made concerning the White Ranch site, 8MR3538, cannot be substantiated or verified.
The Florida Anthropologist, Vol. 74 No.2, 2021
The Suwannee Valley culture is the most recently defined and the least known of Florida's late pr... more The Suwannee Valley culture is the most recently defined and the least known of Florida's late precontact archaeological cultures. Recent work at the Floyd's Mound (8MD6) and South Mound (8MD354) sites significantly extends the geographical extent of this culture as well as providing information about the westernmost of all of the Timucuan chiefdoms of the early contact and early mission eras (A.D. 1513 - 1640).
Finding protohistoric and early contact sites in Florida and the greater Southeast has long been ... more Finding protohistoric and early contact sites in Florida and the greater Southeast has long been a goal of historical archaeologists. New techniques for dating ceramics using OSL, in conjunction with pXRF studies of ceramic paste composition, provide more precise dates for site occupation as well as a better understanding of where ceramics were made. This paper will discuss the results of archaeological study of sites on the Wakulla River and nearby, in conjunction with OSL and pXRF study of the ceramic collections from the sites. It will be argued that these techniques provide a more precise date range for the sites' occupation, and a means of understanding certain cultural practices during the later precontact and early contact periods. In the study of the protohistoric and early contact periods in Florida and the greater Southeast-defined here as that period between A.D. 1492 and 1565, when Europeans were initially exploring the coasts and portions of the interior of the Americas-one of the critical difficulties is trying to locate sites which can be confirmed to have been occupied during this period, but which either have no European artifacts present, or which have such artifacts, but in insufficient quantities to be certain whether the sites in question represent places where Europeans were actually present, or sites where such items may be the result of trade from other locations. For the purposes of this paper, I further define "protohistoric" as a site which can be shown to have been occupied between A.D. 1492 and 1565, but which has no specific evidence of European materials. By contrast, a true early contact site has European materials from the sixteenth century also present. This paper will discuss the use of OSL dating for ceramics, as well as the use of pXRF analysis of ceramics, to gain understanding of when archaeological sites were occupied and what paste sources were used to manufacture ceramics within specific cultural regions. The discussion will focus on artifact assemblages from the cluster of Fort Walton culture sites within Wakulla Springs State Park, both those recovered during the Aucilla Research Institute's
The results of archaeological investigations in 2012 at the Hutto/Martin site, 8MR3447, indicate ... more The results of archaeological investigations in 2012 at the Hutto/Martin site, 8MR3447, indicate the site represents Mission Santa Lucia de Acuera. The results also suggest the Hutto/Martin site likely represents the site of the town of Acuera mentioned in accounts of the Hernando de Soto entrada.
Henry M. Flagler's time in Florida had an enormous impact on the development of the state. This ... more Henry M. Flagler's time in Florida had an enormous impact on the development of the state. This article reviews parts of his life and works through legal documents.
The Richardson/UF Village Site, 8AL100, was discovered in 2013 to have a mission church with asso... more The Richardson/UF Village Site, 8AL100, was discovered in 2013 to have a mission church with associated human remains. The site appears to represent the site of the Potano of the 1539 Hernando de Soto entrada, as well as the site of the 1608 Mission San Buenaventura de Potano.
An understanding of the worldview of historic and archaeological cultures can be gained from an u... more An understanding of the worldview of historic and archaeological cultures can be gained from an understanding of the languages spoken by such cultures and the significance of personal and place names within such languages. The historic Timucuan chiefdom of Acuera had an identity during the mission period which was recognized as distinct from other Timucuan-speaking cultures by the Spanish, by other Timucuan chiefdoms, and by the Acuera themselves. A comparison and analysis of known names from the region of Acuera and other Timucuan chiefdoms is presented, and conclusions and avenues for future research drawn therefrom.
The Timucuan chiefdom of Acuera of the Ocklawaha River valley appear to have maintained a greater... more The Timucuan chiefdom of Acuera of the Ocklawaha River valley appear to have maintained a greater degree of cultural cohesion and suffered less cultural disruption during the contact and mission eras than other Timucuan chiefdoms of Florida. Their adherence to their traditional system of belief appears to have been the primary factor in allowing the Acuera to maintain their traditional cultural practices.
Five towns are recorded in accounts of the Hernando de Soto entrada to have existed in present-da... more Five towns are recorded in accounts of the Hernando de Soto entrada to have existed in present-day Marion and southern Alachua counties in north central Florida: Uqueten, Ocale, Acuera, Itaraholata, and Potano. Recent archaeological discoveries linking the historic accounts with specific sites in this region suggest the possible location and firm identification of two of these sites – Acuera and Potano – and the potential locations of the other three. The archaeological and historic evidence for these identifications will be summarized and presented.
Claims concerning the location of the town of Potano, named in accounts of the 1539 de Soto entra... more Claims concerning the location of the town of Potano, named in accounts of the 1539 de Soto entrada and the location of the later 1608 mission of San Buenaventura de Potano, have recently been made for two sites: the Richardson/UF Village site, 8AL100, and the purported White Ranch site. Recent discoveries at the Richardson/UF Village site will be discussed and their implications for the identity of the site presented.
Chapter 3 in Indigenous Landscapes and Spanish Missions: New Perspectives from Archaeology and Et... more Chapter 3 in Indigenous Landscapes and Spanish Missions: New Perspectives from Archaeology and Ethnohistory, Edited by Lee M. Panich and Tsim D. Schneider. Tucson: University of Arizona Press 2014.
Deagan's patient teaching during my second field school was instrumental in training me for field... more Deagan's patient teaching during my second field school was instrumental in training me for field research. I also want to acknowledge the help and service of Dr. Augusto Oyuela-Caycedo, who served on my committee from 2006 to 2008 and was also helpful and inspirational in developing my understanding of how human belief systems can shape cultural form and practice. I am deeply and profoundly indebted to my committee co-chairs, Dr. William Marquardt of the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Dr. John E. Worth of both the University of Florida and the University of West Florida. Dr. Marquardt's constant work and patient effort in managing my grant funding, in answering my many questions about theoretical and research issues, in helping me manage deadlines and academic
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Papers by Willet Boyer III