Nahuatl - a lingua franca as far north as Kansas

According to archeologist Dr. Don Blakeslee, Nahuatl was the basis for a lingua franca that was widespread in what is now the United States, from Texas to California and as far north as Kansas. Here is a news item about his archeological discoveries in central Kansas:

https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2023/03-march/quivira_3.php?fbclid=IwAR08lU637CIqJdpso_JIFsW-exzO9r6sK7MlRrQOFXCboTCRQG703-c7Vjs

John F. Schwaller, Editor