The Lost City of Etzanoa Uncovered in a Kansas Fiel

Through the passage of time, there have been countless awe-inspiring archaeological findings. These range from small artifacts to enormous fossils and practically everything in between. Even things that might appear trivial at first can eventually reveal earth-shaking historical truths. Indeed, there have been instances when these uncoverings were far more critical than what anyone could have initially speculated, like uncovering whole ancient civilizations or hidden cities. Unquestionably, such a discovery would etch your name in the annals of history. Take for instance a certain excavation that started off as ordinary but led to something completely unexpected, when archaeologists left open-mouthed after digging a specific field in Kansas.

In the year 2015, there was an archaeologist named Donald Blakeslee who was on a mission. Donald was busy looking for clues in the wide expanse of the Great Plains tucked away in Arkansas City, Kansas. His goal? To uncover a lost city hidden right beneath our feet. The task seemed quite ambitious, because who expects to find a forgotten city just kicking around near the Oklahoma border? But Donald had his hopes high and his spirits even higher. Little did he know, he was on the brink of unearthing something far more amazing.

The one and only city we know as Etzanoa is only talked about once in all of history, all thanks to a man named Juan de Oñate. But, here’s the funny part – he didn’t actually mean to find it! In truth, Juan had his sights set on a different place altogether. The place he was originally after was Quivira, a legendary city also known as the “City of Gold.” Juan was eager and excited about the prospect of becoming rich with the golden treasures of Quivira. But, life is unexpected sometimes, and it was during his journey to find Quivira that Juan and his group of men ended up running into the unexpected city of Etzanoa.

Juan and his group of soldiers weren’t by themselves. Shortly, the team noticed a sizeable gathering of around 300 to 400 indigenous individuals making their way towards them. Fortunate for every single person there, the newcomers signaled they meant no harm. Observing their appearance, Juan quickly referred to them as Rayados, a Spanish term that translates to “striped ones.” This nickname probably originated from the striped body art or tattoos the locals used as a form of adornment. Today’s historians have asserted a belief that these individuals who crossed paths with Juan belonged to the Wichitas, a Native American tribe.

The Spanish, hoping to express their peaceful intentions, were soon accepted into the native’s territory. Before long, the locals were eager to lead the newcomers, including Juan and his band, into their city. It’s likely that the group was expecting the Rayados to guide them straight to the fabled City of Gold. After all, their journey of a thousand miles had been fueled by their dreams of stumbling upon untold riches. Little did they understand, they were on the precipice of discovering something far more extraordinary than they could have imagined.

It wasn’t long before Juan and his crew understood they were on the verge of entering a totally different universe. The city, extensive and sprawling, spread over a vast area of thousands of acres. Juan could only guess that it would take nearly three days to traverse it from end to end. The sheer enormity of the city left everyone from the Spanish party in disbelief, not to mention the incredible number of inhabitants in Etzanoa. The city was not just home to a large population but also comprised a range of fields. These significant fields were used to produce food for everyone in the city.

The Spanish found the landscape oddly beautiful. Their eyes met with about 2,000 houses, their shapes resembling beehives. Juan had a feeling that each of these unique structures could easily accommodate at least ten individuals. If his estimates were correct, that would mean that the city of Etzanoa was a bustling place with around 20,000 residents. These residents needed a substantial amount of food to sustain themselves, and Juan soon discovered a bunch of huts designed specifically for storing food. As they continued to explore, it seemed like the population just kept on expanding, with more people everywhere they looked.

On top of that, the Rayados were noticeably large and strongly built. It was as if all the work they put into creating their city and keeping the land helped them become really strong physically. The Spanish were aware that the Rayados were powerful enough to overpower them easily. But, Juan had this urge to keep moving forward; his dream to find the City of Gold was strong. The tribe showed hospitality to the foreigners by offering them corn cakes. There seemed to be a quite high number of these friendly hosts.

Opting to stay a while longer in Etzanoa, the Spanish continued to study and explore the city’s vast array. They were beginning to understand that the Rayados were a large group of people, perfectly capable of farming the land and producing what they needed to stay alive. Juan, however, was struck by the sheer size of the city; buildings seemed to stretch on for miles on end. The group was cautious about venturing deeper into the city, fearing they might unintentionally upset the Rayados. After all, they were greatly outnumbered and Juan didn’t want to stir any trouble.

Before long, some of Juan’s crew began to feel uneasy around their hosts and decided to return to the safer grounds. All of one hundred of the group members chose to spin on their heels and journey back to the south. Their key aim was to distance themselves from the Rayados before time ran out. Could this have hinted at things that lay ahead? The answer revealed itself in no time. It almost felt like the Spanish’s hosts were displeased that their guests wished to depart so soon.

There’s some disagreement about the real story when it comes to Juan and his crew’s attempt to leave the city. According to some accounts, Juan and his men were trapped and forced to make a dramatic escape to get to safety. But other sources, including drawings and documents, hint that it was the Spanish who were holding some of the local people. No matter what, it’s clear that the Rayados were not pleased about this hasty retreat. They had to stop their visitors from getting away at all costs.

Just as the group of Spanish explorers decided to pack up and leave, they found themselves unexpectedly surrounded by a massive crowd of over 1,000 native inhabitants. They were helplessly trapped within a tight rocky passage which left them no possible escape routes. Adding to their list of problems, the Spanish were greatly outmatched by the sheer number of natives. It appeared as if the natives’ hospitality had reached its limit and the explorers were no longer welcomed. Thinking quickly was going to be essential for their survival. Their only choice was to come up with a plan, and fast.

Juan’s small Spanish group instantly realized that they had to face a battle, but they also knew that speed would be crucial to overcome their foes. They quickly seized the only available arms they possessed, which consisted of a few small pistols and small-sized cannons. The Spanish team wasted no time and started firing at the Rayados. Despite these attacks, the Rayados, who had thrived in the wilderness for several years, didn’t panic. Their long-term survival in the wild had gifted them with exceptional skills. Hence, they knew exactly how to dodge Juan and his soldiers and their attacks.

In an astonishing turn of events, Juan along with the other men managed to defend themselves from the Rayados and quickly made their escape to the southern regions. Everybody was left baffled as to how they overpowered so many people but were immensely relieved to be out of danger. Despite not discovering the legendary City of Gold, they had succeeded in safely getting away with their loved ones. The thought of returning to the city of Etzanoa never crossed anyone’s mind. Nevertheless, Juan thoughtfully documented the entire incident for anyone who might possess the courage to embark on a similar adventure.

After 100 years had gone by, a group of French explorers decided to follow the path to Etzanoa, intrigued by the story of the City of Gold. They had managed to find the map drawn by Juan and were using it to guide their steps. Their excitement grew as they finally thought they had found Etzanoa. However, to their utter disappointment, there was nothing but emptiness. The vibrant city and its people were nowhere to be seen. It is widely believed among historians that the disappearance of the Rayados was due to a disease like smallpox that Juan and his group unwittingly introduced; a disease that left nothing of the tribe behind.

For many years, Donald has invested much of his life studying about the mysterious city of Etzanoa, putting hours upon hours into his research. As an archaeologist, his deep interest wasn’t just about reading and researching, he had a greater ambition – he wanted to unearth the city. His aim was to validate that Juan was indeed telling the truth decades ago about its existence, although no one else has ever confirmed it with their own sightings of Etzanoa. Donald’s dedication led him to transcribe the old Spanish documents that Juan had left – a pivotal work he completed in 2013, providing him with a more extensive set of clues to follow.

Donald was no rookie in the world of archaeology. For many years, he had been keenly digging across various spots in Kansas City. This region is now widely known for its profound Native American heritage. Because of the area’s abundant culture, Donald had the fortune to unearth hundreds of artifacts, items like pottery, weaponry, and tools. But the potential find at Etzanoa was in a class of its own. If the archaeologist’s hunch was correct, Donald was on the cusp of discovering the most significant pre-Columbian civilization ever brought to light.

The crew quickly got busy in their quest for the city, but it appeared that Donald’s streak of bad luck was not over. One team member was Adam Ziegler, aged 17, a freshman in high school. Unlike the rest of the team who were ready to wrap up for the day, Adam requested to use Donald’s metal detector. The tenacious young boy dedicated the following two hours to meticulously combing the land for clues. And then it happened. The metal detector began to emit beeping noises. Had Adam stumbled upon the solution they’d been seeking?

Immediately, the group hurried over to where Adam was and started digging in the dirt. They didn’t have to do much work, as the object causing the beep was just a few inches, exactly four, beneath the surface. They discovered a small, marble-sized object. It did not look like much, and its next-door neighbor was nothing more than a horseshoe nail from a Spanish horse. Still, it had to be of some significance. Donald quickly brought it back to the lab for further study, wondering what secrets this little ball held. It didn’t take him long to see what it was – a miniature cannonball. Adam had stumbled upon the most exciting find to date.

Adam had incredibly found one of the tiniest signs pointing to the hidden city of Etzanoa, and not only that, but he astonishingly pinpointed the very place where the Spanish had their massive battle with the Native Americans centuries ago. Donald was overjoyed! He could now reveal Etzanoa to the world and validate all of his and Juan’s long-held theories and documents. It was the biggest achievement he as an archeologist could ever dream of, and he couldn’t have asked for a better payoff.

Donald has now made the land accessible to everyone, welcoming people from all corners of the globe to experience Etzanoa through guided tours. Not only can they explore this historic city, but they can also try their hand at discovering hidden treasures. Donald’s wish is to impart knowledge about the forgotten city to the younger generation while continuing his quest to unearth more significant finds. With his generous land donation, he was able to validate that the Native Americans of that region would venture out for trade, successfully debunking many previously held notions. Thanks to Donald, the intricacies of our past are being revealed, proving history to be much more fascinating than implied by earlier theories.