Archaelolgists from the University of North Florida have been searching again for the remains of Fort Caroline. In the early 16th century, French Heugenots sailed the Atlantic and landed in Northeast Florida, ahead of the settlers in St Augustine, Roanoke Island, Jamestown and Plymouth.
An article about the mystery of Fort Caroline in today's Florida Times Union recounted that there are many clues, but so far no one can find any evidence of the long gone Fort.
In 1562, Jean Ribault sailed into what is now the St. Johns River but did not stay. In 1564, French settlers returned and established Ft. Caroline. In 1565, Spanish explorers saw the French ships and moved south to establish St. Augustine. The Spanish returned in a couple of weeks and slaughtered the French colonists, with only a few escaping and/or spared. Ft. Caroline was renamed San Mateo by the Spanish conqueorors. Jean Ribault had been driven ashore by an approaching hurricane (leaving Fort Caroline defenseless) and he and his men were killed by the Spanish after the invasion of Fort Caroline. The site where Ribault and his men were killed sits south of St. Augustine and is now called Matanzas (which means 'slaughter' in Spanish).
Well-known Jacksonville early settler planter Zephaniah Kingsley's son wrote about the ruins of the fort in 1830, so we know it lasted into the 19th century. The search goes on, made more difficult by development. Next the archaeologists will move east to the Chinopit Bay area to see if the Fort will finally reveal itself.
Stay tuned, someone will find it someday!
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