43974
Accession Number
16968
Author
Brill, Robert H.;Barnes, I. Lynus;Tong, Stephen S.C.;Joel, Emile C.; Murtaugh, Martin J.
Compiler
Gerace, Donald T.
Corporate Author
Corning Museum of Glass. Corning Glass Works;National Bureau of Standards; Smithsonian Institution
Author Affiliation
The Corning Museum of Glass;National Bureau of Standards;Corning Glass Works;Smithsonian Institution;Smithsonian Institution
Title Of Article Chaper
Laboratory Studies of Some European Artifacts Excavated on San Salvador Island
Title Of Journal Book
Proceedings of the First San Salvador Conference: Columbus and His World
Pages
247-292
Collation
46 p. : ill.
Reference Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Monograph
Literature Level
Analytic
Meeting
First San Salvador Conference
Meeting City
San Salvador Island (Bahamas)
Abstract
Recent excavations at The Long Bay Site uncovered artifacts of European manufacture intermingled with native Indian artifacts. These include seven very small glass beads (and fragments of three others), a coin, a small metal buckle, a D-ring, 32 sherds of melado ware, and two small sherds of white-glaze ware. Laboratory studies have been conducted to help determine the origins and dates of these artifacts. The glass beads are wire-wound and have an extremely unusual high-lead chemical composition. The coin is a billon blanca of Henry IV minted between 1471 and 1474. Both buckles were found to be lightly-leaded bronzes. The melado ware has a lead glaze, as do the white wares, although the latter also contain tin. All of the artifacts contain intentionally-added lead. Their isotope ratios spread over a range, but all are consistent with Spanish origins. The data indicate that the San Salvador artifacts were made in three locations within Spain.
Keywords
artifact;San Salvador;glass;bead;coin;buckle;lead
pub_id
43974
Meeting Date
19861030-19861103