Talking Sherds, Spanish ceramics in Caribbean context

Ceramics have been an object of trade since the Spanish first set foot ashore at the Caribbean in 1492. Many types of ceramics have been transported to the islands, for personal use of the Spaniards and as exchange objects to trade with the Indians. Colonial sherds have been found at many early contact sites. A comparable study of historical and archaeological sources tells us about the characteristics of this early contact exchange of pottery. Olive jar and Majolicas are amongst the most distributed types of pottery, this is due to the practical aspects of this pottery. Indirectly these sources can also tell us something about the social meaning of the colonial ceramics on a Native America site. They show us how the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola experienced these European sherds and how they treated them. A study of the sherds of Olive jar and Columbia Plain at the site El Cabo on the island of Hispaniola reveals us more about this social meaning....Show moreCeramics have been an object of trade since the Spanish first set foot ashore at the Caribbean in 1492. Many types of ceramics have been transported to the islands, for personal use of the Spaniards and as exchange objects to trade with the Indians. Colonial sherds have been found at many early contact sites. A comparable study of historical and archaeological sources tells us about the characteristics of this early contact exchange of pottery. Olive jar and Majolicas are amongst the most distributed types of pottery, this is due to the practical aspects of this pottery. Indirectly these sources can also tell us something about the social meaning of the colonial ceramics on a Native America site. They show us how the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola experienced these European sherds and how they treated them. A study of the sherds of Olive jar and Columbia Plain at the site El Cabo on the island of Hispaniola reveals us more about this social meaning. Interpretations of the sort of colonial contact, find context of the sherds in relationship with the house structures and other findings of the site, possible modification, the distribution of the sherds and trampling processes give us an insight in the way the Taíno saw the colonial pottery and sherds as a luxury item and how they treated this luxury.Show less

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Talking Sherds, Spanish ceramics in Caribbean context