Early history thumb|left|Former slave quarters at the Hale–Elmore–Seibels House in downtown Columbia. In May 1540, a Spanish expedition led by Hernando de Soto traversed what is now Columbia while moving northward on exploration of the interior of the Southeast. The expedition produced the earliest written historical records of this area, which was part of the regional Cofitachequi chiefdom of the Mississippian culture.
eaRly HIstory tHumb|LeFt|former sLave QUARTers At thE HAle–ELmOre–seibelS houSe in dOwntoWn COlumBia. in may 1540, a spanisH expEDiTioN led by heRnando de soTo TraverSeD whaT iS nOw coLUmbia wHile mOving NorThwarD On exPloratiON of thE InteRIoR Of THe SoUThEaST. the EXpediTIoN produceD the eArLiest wRITTen historiCal rECords of this aRea, which waS PART of thE regIONAL CoFiTAcheQui CHiefdoM Of tHE misSissiPpIan CulTure.