When worlds collide: the archaeology of European contact on the Georgia coast during the 16th century

Public Lecture | Updated 1 decade ago

Lithograph showing first European contact in the Caribbean Islands
Timucuans greeting the French (1564): lithograph attributed to Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues
Image in the public domain

Batavia Lecture Series 2013

Presented by Dr Thomas Whitley
Asst. Professor of Archaeology, University of Western Australia

Recent archaeological discoveries in coastal Georgia (USA) have revealed a fascinating story of 16th Century French and Spanish explorations and the demise of the Timucuans through conflict and disease.

During archaeological survey work for a planned housing development on the Georgia coast, a number of sites were defined that were the remnants of Timucuan villages. These related tribes were some of the first people encountered by Europeans in the early 1500s, in what is now the United States. One of these sites produced a high-status burial with a wide range of European trade goods (some of which are otherwise unknown in North America). Through meticulous research, archaeaologists working on this site believe these were the remains of King Hiocaia, leader of the Yufera; a band of the Northern Timucuans.

Join Dr Thomas Whitley as he details the archaeology and historical voyage accounts that provide a tragic tale of discovery, conflict, loss, and the extinction of an entire culture.

COST: $12 per person. Includes refreshments after the lecture
BOOKINGS: Essential on 9431 8455. Please RSVP by 5.00pm, Wednesday 24 July