Historical Archaeology - Shipwreck Archaeology

ANT 412 - Historical Archaeology

Age of Exploration

Shipwreck Archaeology

Spanish Treasure Fleets

HMS Glory and HMS Valiant

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Introduction The maritime explorations of European nations really set off the era that is the usual focus of historical archaeology. It began the era of globalization, colonialism and, eventually, capitalism. They initiated sustained cultural contacts between Europeans and inhabitants of other continents that quickly led to European conquest of North and South America and establishment of extensive empires, exploitation of colonies for the economic benefit of the homeland, and suppression of indigenous cultures in favour of European culture.

Last update: 16 August 2004

Treasure Fleet
The Spanish Treasure Fleet (or flota) is among the most famous targets of underwater archaeological and treasure-seekers' exploration. It is also symbolic of Spain's version of the mercantilist economic system.

Spain attempted to control trade with New Spain (Mexico & Central America) and South America rigidly. Twice a year it sent a flota (or convoy) from Seville to the Caribbean, where it would separate into two fleets, one set for Veracruz in Mexico (the Nueva España flota), and the other set for Porto Bello and Cartagena. Each flota would contain warships or galleons, which protected the naos, or merchant ships, as well as supply ships and reconnaissance ships. The naos, or cargo ships, carried Spanish manufactured goods for sale to colonial subjects, and Spanish law forbade ships from other countries to import such goods. In the colonial ports, the cargo ships would unload the Spanish goods and take on gold and silver bullion (stamped to indicate that appropriate taxes were paid), gold and silver coins (minting was a royal prerogative also intended as a way to tax bullion), copper, hides, exotic woods, sugar, tobacco, and also Chinese goods transhipped from Acapulco on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

The Spanish treasure fleets flooded Europe with bullion taken from the Aztecs and Incas, as well as from captured mines, undoubtedly with a substantial impact on the European economy (remember, mercantilist economy equated prosperity with the amount of gold and silver a nation had).

However, the Spanish Crown became highly dependent on the arrival of treasure fleets, so it was a major disaster when ships were lost either to piracy or storms. Many shipwreck sites along the Texas and especially Florida coasts are due to losses that the Nueva España flota suffered from hurricanes and other storms. Major losses occurred in 1622, 1715, and 1733 when the flota encountered hurricanes off Florida.

Shipwreck Sites
Shipwreck sites are "time capsules" of the naval and economic circumstances at the time they went down. Most non-archaeologists think only of the treasure they may contain, but both westbound and eastbound Spanish ships also provide important sources of evidence:

Stamps and markings on the bullion ingots of the eastbound naos provide evidence for the colonial taxation system. If it were not for their loss at sea, these ingots would have been melted down or minted into coin after reaching Spain, so the marks would be destroyed
Personal effects provide some evidence as to who the passengers and crews of the ships were. Detailed documentary evidence of this type is rare
The cargo of the westbound ships documents exactly what kinds of goods were being shipped to the colonies and, if the ship can be identified (so the date of the wreck is known exactly), can also provide some of the best evidence for the chronology of changes in artifact styles and technology
Remains of the ships themselves provide evidence for changing nautical technology, including shipbuilding techniques. Again, if the date of the wreck is known, they can also show how long old ships and obsolete technology continued in use

Archaeological Contributions
So what does nautical archaeology tell us that we don't know from studying nautical documents, ships' manifests, or shipbuilders' plans?

See also International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Columbus Caravels Project, HMS Fowey, The Spanish Treasure Fleet System, University of West Florida Queen Anne's Revenge, Underwater and Maritime Archaeology, LaSalle (Texas) Shipwreck Project, Phips Shipwreck, Gunboat Spitfire (Lake Champlain) 1776, Indiana University - Underwater Parks, HMS Pandora, San Pedro, Padre Island 1554,

References
Arnold, J. Bartold III (1981) Remote sensing in underwater archaeology. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 10:51-62.

Arnold, J. Bartold III, and R. S. Weddle (1978). The Nautical Archaeology of Padre Island: The Spanish Shipwrecks of 1554. Academic Press, New York.

Burgess, Robert, and Carl J. Clausen (1982). Florida's Golden Galleons: The Search for the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet. Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno.

Haring, C. H. (1918). Trade and Navigation Between Spain and the Indies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.

Horner, D. (1971). The Treasure Galleons. Dodd, Mead, and Co., New York.

Lyon, Eugene (1979). The Search For the Atocha. Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno.

Smith, Roger (1988). Treasure Ships of the Spanish Main: The Iberian-American Maritime Empires. In Bass, George (ed.) Ships and Shipwrecks of the Americas: A History Based on Underwater Archaeology. Thames and Hudson, New York, 33-44.

Steffy, J. Richard (xx). Wooden Shipbuilding and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks.

Introduction		The maritime explorations of European nations really set off the era that is the usual focus of historical archaeology. It began the era of globalization, colonialism and, eventually, capitalism. They initiated sustained cultural contacts between Europeans and inhabitants of other continents that quickly led to European conquest of North and South America and establishment of extensive empires, exploitation of colonies for the economic benefit of the homeland, and suppression of indigenous cultures in favour of European culture.
Last update: 16 August 2004
Treasure Fleet		The Spanish Treasure Fleet (or flota) is among the most famous targets of underwater archaeological and treasure-seekers' exploration. It is also symbolic of Spain's version of the mercantilist economic system. Spain attempted to control trade with New Spain (Mexico & Central America) and South America rigidly. Twice a year it sent a flota (or convoy) from Seville to the Caribbean, where it would separate into two fleets, one set for Veracruz in Mexico (the Nueva España flota), and the other set for Porto Bello and Cartagena. Each flota would contain warships or galleons, which protected the naos, or merchant ships, as well as supply ships and reconnaissance ships. The naos, or cargo ships, carried Spanish manufactured goods for sale to colonial subjects, and Spanish law forbade ships from other countries to import such goods. In the colonial ports, the cargo ships would unload the Spanish goods and take on gold and silver bullion (stamped to indicate that appropriate taxes were paid), gold and silver coins (minting was a royal prerogative also intended as a way to tax bullion), copper, hides, exotic woods, sugar, tobacco, and also Chinese goods transhipped from Acapulco on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The Spanish treasure fleets flooded Europe with bullion taken from the Aztecs and Incas, as well as from captured mines, undoubtedly with a substantial impact on the European economy (remember, mercantilist economy equated prosperity with the amount of gold and silver a nation had). However, the Spanish Crown became highly dependent on the arrival of treasure fleets, so it was a major disaster when ships were lost either to piracy or storms. Many shipwreck sites along the Texas and especially Florida coasts are due to losses that the Nueva España flota suffered from hurricanes and other storms. Major losses occurred in 1622, 1715, and 1733 when the flota encountered hurricanes off Florida.

Shipwreck Sites		Shipwreck sites are "time capsules" of the naval and economic circumstances at the time they went down. Most non-archaeologists think only of the treasure they may contain, but both westbound and eastbound Spanish ships also provide important sources of evidence: Stamps and markings on the bullion ingots of the eastbound naos provide evidence for the colonial taxation system. If it were not for their loss at sea, these ingots would have been melted down or minted into coin after reaching Spain, so the marks would be destroyed Personal effects provide some evidence as to who the passengers and crews of the ships were. Detailed documentary evidence of this type is rare The cargo of the westbound ships documents exactly what kinds of goods were being shipped to the colonies and, if the ship can be identified (so the date of the wreck is known exactly), can also provide some of the best evidence for the chronology of changes in artifact styles and technology Remains of the ships themselves provide evidence for changing nautical technology, including shipbuilding techniques. Again, if the date of the wreck is known, they can also show how long old ships and obsolete technology continued in use

Archaeological Contributions		So what does nautical archaeology tell us that we don't know from studying nautical documents, ships' manifests, or shipbuilders' plans? See also *International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Columbus Caravels Project, HMS Fowey, The Spanish Treasure Fleet System, University of West Florida Queen Anne's Revenge, Underwater and Maritime Archaeology, LaSalle (Texas) Shipwreck Project, Phips Shipwreck,* Gunboat Spitfire (Lake Champlain) 1776, Indiana University - Underwater Parks, HMS Pandora, San Pedro, Padre Island 1554,

References		Arnold, J. Bartold III (1981) Remote sensing in underwater archaeology. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 10:51-62. Arnold, J. Bartold III, and R. S. Weddle (1978). The Nautical Archaeology of Padre Island: The Spanish Shipwrecks of 1554. Academic Press, New York. Burgess, Robert, and Carl J. Clausen (1982). Florida's Golden Galleons: The Search for the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet. Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno. Haring, C. H. (1918). Trade and Navigation Between Spain and the Indies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. Horner, D. (1971). The Treasure Galleons. Dodd, Mead, and Co., New York. Lyon, Eugene (1979). The Search For the Atocha. Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno. Smith, Roger (1988). Treasure Ships of the Spanish Main: The Iberian-American Maritime Empires. In Bass, George (ed.) Ships and Shipwrecks of the Americas: A History Based on Underwater Archaeology. Thames and Hudson, New York, 33-44. Steffy, J. Richard (xx). Wooden Shipbuilding and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks.