Archaeologists have uncovered a significant artifact—a flaked-stone obsidian blade—that could be associated with Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's historic expedition in search of the legendary city of gold.
Coronado, a Spanish explorer and conquistador, led an expedition from Mexico to present-day Kansas between 1540 and 1542, seeking Cibola, also known as the Seven Cities of Gold—a mythical province believed to harbor magnificent cities crafted from gold.
While the origins of the legend trace back to Portuguese myths of seven cities on the mythical island of Antillia, reports about Cibola gained traction from survivors of the ill-fated Narváez expedition in 1527, which aimed to establish colonies in Florida.
The obsidian blade, discovered in the Texas panhandle region by researchers from Southern Methodist University (SMU), is believed to have been dropped by a member of Coronado's expedition, which included indigenous individuals from Mexico.
Chemical analysis using a spectrometer indicates that the blade's composition aligns with obsidian from Central Mexico's Sierra de Pachuca mountain range—a region where indigenous populations crafted cutting tools from obsidian prior to Spanish conquest.
SMU anthropologist Matthew Boulanger emphasized the significance of the find, stating that the artifact meets all criteria for compelling evidence of Coronado's presence in the Texas panhandle. Boulanger noted the blade's form, material, location, and lack of indications of a hoax as key factors supporting its authenticity.
Additional research has corroborated the expedition's path through the United States by examining other examples of central Mexican obsidian blades discarded by expedition members.
This discovery adds to our understanding of Coronado's historic journey and offers tangible evidence of the expedition's presence in the Texas panhandle, providing valuable insights into the exploration of the American Southwest during the 16th century.
