Was the ancient Indian village of Maubila located at present-day Pine Orchard, Alabama?

DeSoto "discovers" the Mississippi River.

I was looking through some old newspapers the other day and ran across an interesting item related to Indian mounds in the Oct. 14, 1948 edition of The Evergreen Courant. That news item read as follows:

“Twelves miles north of Demopolis on the Forkland road is located the remains of Mauvilla, the scene of DeSoto’s bloody battle with the Indians in 1540. One of the largest Indian mounds in the nation remains amid the growing forest at the almost lost site of Mauvilla. The National Geographic Magazine states in a story on Alabama that Mauvilla ‘was a walled city, built only of wood and mud, yet big enough to shelter 80,000 people – with portholes and towers and double palisades.’ But during DeSoto’s battle with the Indians, their capital city was blasted to the ground and several thousand of the Red Braves were slaughtered, and DeSoto himself limped away wounded, after losing several hundred of his own cavaliers.”

As many students of Alabama history will know, the exact location of Mauvilla, which is also popularly known as “Maubila,” is probably Alabama’s most enduring historical mysteries. Theories abound as to where it was exactly located, with some saying it was in Clarke County, Monroe County, Wilcox County, Dallas County, Hale County, Tuscaloosa County and various other places. The truth is that no one knows for sure, and there are some who say it may have been located in Conecuh County.

For decades, the late George “Buster” Singleton wrote a weekly newspaper column for The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville. Singleton was widely known for his ghost stories and spooky adventures, but he also had a big interest in amateur archeology and Indian lore. Over the years, he became a local history expert and had attained much knowledge about ancient Indian sites in our area. 

More than a few times, Singleton wrote that he believed that a thorough investigation of northwestern Conecuh County would prove that Maubila was located in what is now the Pine Orchard area. Those of you familiar with Pine Orchard will know that it is located on County Road 5, on the Conecuh-Monroe County line.

“If one studies and researches the route that DeSoto and his army took through what is now Monroe, Wilcox and Conecuh counties, it will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the famed Indian village was in what is now the corner of Conecuh and Monroe counties, where the counties join,” Singleton wrote in a 2003 article.

Singleton’s theories are interesting, especially when you consider the “Mystery Stones” that were found at Pine Orchard in the early 1970s. These 12 stones were found out in the middle of the woods and were of varying sizes. Archeologists and researchers have examined them over the years and have been unable to determine their purpose.

I personally believe that Maubila was probably located at Moundville in Hale County or at the site of Old Cahaba in Dallas County. I’m no expert, but these seem to be the best candidates in my book. Of course, it’s still up for debate.

In the end, I’d like to hear from any readers in the audience with information about old Indian mounds or village sites in Conecuh County. Also, I’m always up for a field trip, so if anyone in the reading audience would like to show me any local mounds or village sites, give me a call. No doubt many readers would be interested in hearing about it.