Notes from the Trenches at Nombre de Dios: Week 1
We have a special guest this fall...none other than Dr. Kathleen Deagan reporting from the dig out at Nombre de Dios running October 8 - November 30, 2018! Take it away Dr. Deagan:
Archaeologists made an unexpected discovery at this spot in 2011. Coquina, tabby and oyster shell foundations were uncovered just inches under the sod, outlining a building of about 80 by 40 feet. Artifacts found with the foundation date to the late 17th and early 18th centuries- indicating that the building is more than 300 years old.
The east half of the building was made of coquina block, and the west half of poured tabby cement. We currently suspect that the coquina section was built by the Spanish Governor Don Pablo de Hita y Salazar in 1677 in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of Milk and a Safe, Happy Delivery). The Governor boasted that “there was no other like it in the provinces."
That building was badly damaged in 1702, when James Moore, the then-Governor of British South Carolina, attacked and burned St. Augustine. The shrine was rebuilt, and a convento (monastery) was also built. We suspect that the tabby section of the building was the renovation and convent addition after 1702.
Our excavations are currently uncovering, cleaning, and mapping the foundations in order to test these hypotheses – was this the 1677 Shrine with the convento added after 1702? The layering of soil and post stains, along with the artifacts recovered in the soil, will help answer that question.
The 2018 excavation has four basic goals:
In pursuing these goals, we also expect to recover artifacts plant remains and animal bones that can help us understand details the life at the Mission.
Timeline
1587 Mission Nombre de Dios established by Franciscans.
1606 216 native people and 20 "españoles" living at the Mission.
1620s Statue and Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Leche brought to the Mission.
1654 Smallpox epidemic nearly wiped out Mission occupants.
Friars were not in residence, but lived at the Convento de San Francisco in town.
1674 30 native people reported to be living at Nombre de Dios.
1677 Governor de Hita y Salazar reports "I have build a church for Our Lady (of La Leche) of
mortar and masonry, the only one like it in the province."
1689 20 families reported to be living at the Mission.
1702 Nombre de Dios attacked and burned by English Col James Moore.
1711 39 Timucuans reported to be living at the Mission.
1726 62 Timucuans and Chiluca Indians at the Mission- stone church and convent noted.
1728 Spaniards below up the stone building to prevent its use by the British.
Entire Mission community and Shrine moved to the other side of Hospital Creek.
1934 Christain Native American burials discovered in a 40 x 80 foot area.
Text and Images: Dr. Kathleen Deagan, except where noted. Special thanks to Chad Light for providing drone views of the site and Dr. Gifford Waters for site information and images.
Check back next week for on the dig or search #iDigNombreDeDios for updates from the field on social media!
All Notes from the Trenches at Nombre de Dios:
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4/5
For further reading:
Unearthing a Rare Stone Mission Church in St. Augustine (2014)
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/unearthing-a-rare-stone-mission-church-in-st-augustine/
 |
| Drone footage of Mission excavation, courtesy of Chad Light. |
The east half of the building was made of coquina block, and the west half of poured tabby cement. We currently suspect that the coquina section was built by the Spanish Governor Don Pablo de Hita y Salazar in 1677 in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of Milk and a Safe, Happy Delivery). The Governor boasted that “there was no other like it in the provinces."
 |
| Nombre de Dios site map, courtesy of Dr. Gifford Waters. |
 |
| Drone footage of Mission excavation, courtesy of Chad Light. |
That building was badly damaged in 1702, when James Moore, the then-Governor of British South Carolina, attacked and burned St. Augustine. The shrine was rebuilt, and a convento (monastery) was also built. We suspect that the tabby section of the building was the renovation and convent addition after 1702.
Our excavations are currently uncovering, cleaning, and mapping the foundations in order to test these hypotheses – was this the 1677 Shrine with the convento added after 1702? The layering of soil and post stains, along with the artifacts recovered in the soil, will help answer that question.
 |
| Archaeologist excavate to reveal building foundation. |
 |
| San Augustin Blue on White plate (1700-1750), courtesy Dr. Gifford Waters. |
The 2018 excavation has four basic goals:
- To fully reveal and document the foundation with maps and photographs.
- To determine the sequence of building, and how the building itself was used.
- To document the foundation with photogrammetry and laser scanning in order to create a 3-D model.
- To assess the physical condition of the foundations themselves to determine if it will be possible to keep them exposed for public viewing.
In pursuing these goals, we also expect to recover artifacts plant remains and animal bones that can help us understand details the life at the Mission.
1587 Mission Nombre de Dios established by Franciscans.
1606 216 native people and 20 "españoles" living at the Mission.
1620s Statue and Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Leche brought to the Mission.
1654 Smallpox epidemic nearly wiped out Mission occupants.
Friars were not in residence, but lived at the Convento de San Francisco in town.
1674 30 native people reported to be living at Nombre de Dios.
1677 Governor de Hita y Salazar reports "I have build a church for Our Lady (of La Leche) of
mortar and masonry, the only one like it in the province."
1689 20 families reported to be living at the Mission.
1702 Nombre de Dios attacked and burned by English Col James Moore.
1711 39 Timucuans reported to be living at the Mission.
1726 62 Timucuans and Chiluca Indians at the Mission- stone church and convent noted.
1728 Spaniards below up the stone building to prevent its use by the British.
Entire Mission community and Shrine moved to the other side of Hospital Creek.
1934 Christain Native American burials discovered in a 40 x 80 foot area.
Text and Images: Dr. Kathleen Deagan, except where noted. Special thanks to Chad Light for providing drone views of the site and Dr. Gifford Waters for site information and images.
Check back next week for on the dig or search #iDigNombreDeDios for updates from the field on social media!
All Notes from the Trenches at Nombre de Dios:
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4/5
For further reading:
Unearthing a Rare Stone Mission Church in St. Augustine (2014)
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/unearthing-a-rare-stone-mission-church-in-st-augustine/
And thank you to the Nombre de Dios 2018 field season sponsors!