Spanish items previously used by the Soto expedition were reappropriated by the Chickasaws for daily purposes after their departure.

In a fascinating discovery, researchers have unearthed over 80 metal objects in Mississippi, believed to be remnants from Hernando de Soto's 16th-century expedition. The study, co-authored by James Legg, Steven Smith, Chester DePratter of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Edmond Boudreaux of the University of Mississippi, and reviewed by the Chickasaw Nation for consistency with its histories, suggests that the Chickasaws adapted to the invasion by alien intruders.

The objects, discovered at the Stark Farms site, are one of the few places to yield archaeological evidence of direct contact with de Soto's expedition. According to the researchers, the Spaniards left the objects behind while fleeing a Chickasaw attack in 1541. The Chickasaws, victorious in the battle, collected these prized metal objects and repurposed them for local uses and tastes.

Among the objects found were iron replicas of Native American stone celt, or axe heads, which is a unique find in the Southeast. The Chickasaws also used these metal objects as raw materials for their tools and ornaments. The sheer abundance of objects from the site is unique, offering a glimpse into the Chickasaws' ingenuity and adaptability.

One of the most poignant findings is the evidence of European enslavement of people in what is now the U.S., as shown by chain links, pulled apart with sharpened edges. This discovery underscores the complex history of interaction between Native Americans and European settlers.

The Chickasaw Nation and its Chickasaw Explorers Program co-led and funded the research, with portions of the fieldwork also funded by the National Geographic Society. The repurposed items from Stark Farms represent a stage of Native American experimentation and improvisation with foreign items that largely faded by the late 1700s and 1800s.

The objects discovered will be repatriated to the Chickasaw Nation for permanent curation and exhibits, ensuring that these historical artifacts remain a part of the Chickasaw community's heritage. The study was published in the journal American Antiquity with the DOI 10.1017/aaq.2021.17.

As the Chickasaw Nation continues to uncover and preserve its past, this discovery offers a valuable insight into the resilience and adaptability of Native American cultures in the face of invasion and colonisation.