Cabeza de Vaca in Texas

“Cabeza de Vaca in Texas”

 In many respects, the Historic Period in Texas began with the arrival of Cabeza de Vaca in 1528. For the next 7 years, Cabeza and 3 companions traveled through South Texas and northern Mexico, working their way toward Spanish settlements in New Spain.  During their years in Texas, they lived with several Native American groups and had contacts with many more.  Cabeza became the first European to write about the natives of South Texas and the Rio Grande, including their ritual weeping, stone boiling, and consumption of prickly pear cactus and mesquite.  On August 23, James Everett from the Tarrant County Archeological Society will examine the context for Cabeza’s expedition and what Cabeza had to say about the Native Texans with whom he came in contact.