Download the entire report in Lead-Glazed Earthenwares
The second group of ceramics recovered from Emanuel Point is lead-glazed coarse earthenware. Sherds of this group include two diagnostic types, Melado and El Morro. Date ranges of usage for these two types have been established in archaeological contexts at St. Augustine and Santa Elena as well as other colonial sites within the Caribbean area (Deagan 1987:28). Melado (1490-1550), a lead-glazed pottery with a white underslip, is distinctively honey colored and is associated with Spanish colonial sites from the early to mid-sixteenth century. Seven Melado sherds are represented in the collection; a handle fragment with an apple-green glaze variant compares favorably with a similar sherd in the Lister type collection at the Florida Museum of Natural History. El Morro ware (1550-1770) is characterized by a thick, shiny green or rust colored glaze and has some temper inclusions in the ceramic paste. Thirteen sherds of this type are represented in the collection.
Fig. 58. Lead-glazed earthenwares of the Melado variety were popular from 1490 to 1550.