The Archaeology of Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century San Agustin: The City’s First 135 Years

Summary

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine became the center of power in La Florida during the First Spanish Period. Although the Spanish made earlier attempts to claim the region, San Agustin was the only settlement to endure for over 450 years, earning it the moniker of the “Nation’s Oldest City.” Moved to its current location in 1572, the town was first illustrated in 1586 by Baptista Boazio’s depiction of Sir Francis Drake’s raid on the colony. Over the decades that followed, the community was marred by additional pirate attacks, plagues, hurricanes, and fires while simultaneously expanding the Spanish dominion into the interior southeast. Given the city’s prominence, it has been the subject of archaeological investigations for nearly 100 years. Using research conducted by the City of St. Augustine Archaeology Program, this paper synthesizes data at a city-wide level using new technologies to illuminate unheralded histories about the town’s first 135 years.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

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Contact(s): Nicole Haddow