Spanish fort discovered in Morganton, NC

[bluedigger]

2. It really would have changed history had the Spanish kept their foothold.

It is a very interesting and little known chapter in the European conquest of the Americas. The indigenous population won the battle, but disease probably weakened them enough so that the English had an easier, if not trouble free, time of it a generation later. Had the Spanish found their gold I have no doubt they would have put enough resources in to achieve a lasting presence, with serious implications on the development of the English colonies and our present nation.

My friend had been talking about finding Spanish artifacts on a relative's property years ago, and he kept looking in the area throughout his time in grad school, and then after he started teaching himself. His perseverance was finally rewarded. I'm not aware of any published work on his previous discoveries, but now that they think they have confirmed one of the forts, the time seems ripe.