The Southeast contains thousands of archaeological sites.

Many have been damaged by farming, construction, erosion, and looting.

Some remain hidden in forests.

Others lie beneath modern fields.

A tiny metal object might be waiting in any of them.

If researchers can identify more contact-period sites, they may be able to reconstruct the Spanish route with much greater precision.

They may also learn more about how individual Native communities responded.

Some may show evidence of trade.