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Analysis of the ceramic assemblage from the Emanuel Point Ship, and its comparison with that of other dated archaeological sites suggests that the shipwreck may have occurred between 1550 and 1580. Certainly, the discovery of Aztec pottery, previously unreported from a shipwreck context, bears further investigation, as well as comparison with similar examples from terrestrial sites in Mexico, if they exist. However, ceramics can be used for other purposes than to establish a chronology for the site. In the case of the Emanuel Point ceramics, an interesting result of attempts to mend Olive Jar sherds has demonstrated the potential to shed light on the ship’s wrecking process. While cross-mending sherds from various proveniences, a trend seemed to occur in one particular vessel. A partial rim and shoulder was recovered from the outer port footwale, upper body sherds were found inboard, and middle body sherds came from above the keel. Tracking the positions of the cross mends suggests that the jar fell toward the port and broke, depositing the sherds in a linear pattern. Perhaps by tracking patterns such as this, aspects of the ship’s wrecking process can be reconstructed (Wells 1995).
Ceramic Type |
No. of Sherds |
Weight of Sherds |
% of Sherds |
|---|---|---|---|
Olive Jar (unglazed) |
712 |
13,813.2 gr |
92.2% |
| Olive Jar (lead glazed) | 9 |
171.1 gr |
1.1% |
| cantimplora | 10 |
556.9 gr |
1.3% |
| Majolica | 4 |
104 gr |
0.5% |
| El Moro | 13 |
58 gr |
1.7% |
| Melado | 7 |
51.3 gr |
0.9% |
| Aztec | 6 |
126.8 gr |
0.8% |
| Unidentified | 8 |
575 gr |
1.0% |
| Brick | 2 |
588.8 gr |
0.3% |
| Tile | 1 |
134.8 gr |
0.1% |
| Total | 772 |
16,179.9 gr |
100% |