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Paper short abstract:

This paper presents new archaeological findings related to Spain's 1559 expedition to Pensacola, Florida.

Paper long abstract:

Pensacola, Florida was the scene of an early attempt by Spain to establish a colony in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Led by Don Tristán de Luna and comprised of eleven ships and 1,500 people, the expedition was devastated by a hurricane shortly after arriving in Pensacola Bay, yet the colonists remained for two years in an attempt to settle the area. Historical and archaeological research has led to the discovery of three vessels from the fleet, as well as the historical settlement site on the nearby shore. This paper presents an overview of the expedition and examines the multiple wreck sites from the fleet.