Leon-Jefferson culture

It was located in and named for the present day Leon and Jefferson counties in northern Florida of the Southeastern United States[1] The cultural transformation from Late Fort Walton to Early Leon-Jefferson may have been brought about through contact with Lamar phase peoples from central Georgia.

This period also represents the transformation of the Apalachee peoples of the Fort Walton tradition and the collapse of the chiefdom as aboriginal populations declined following contact with European explorers and colonizers.

Later in the period populations begin to drop, most likely in response to the introduction of diseases introduced by Europeans such as the Hernando de Soto entrada which passed through the area in 1539.

[1] [1] Early in the Leon-Jefferson period ceramics are well-made vessels, using grit tempering rather than the more common Mississippian culture trait of using ground mussel shells.

The most common shapes for ceramic vessels at this time were bowls with outward flaring rims, very similar to Lamar style wares.