Dawson believes that Thomas mound is the most likely site of the Indian village of Ocita which is where de Soto set up his first major camp when he came to Florida. There are several archaeological sites in this area (see references) that give clues that de Soto stayed here.
Description
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto (c.1496/1497–1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, and the first documented to have crossed the Mississippi River.