At least three different vessel forms identified as Spanish coarseware are represented in the James Fort archaeological collection. With a coarse, unglazed fabric, olive jars comprise the largest assemblage. A similar vessel type, the orza is represented by a unique rim. And a unique, lead-glazed coarseware mercury jar is also believed to be of Spanish origin.
To learn more about each of these vessel forms and their use at Jamestown, click on the Selected Artifact images below.
One orza or storage jar rim has been identified in the collection. It has the same coarse earthenware fabric like olive jars but a shorter and wider rim. These vessels have flat bottoms, thick walls, and tend to be tall, which are not ideal characteristics for shipping containers. This vessel was most likely used as a storage container by colonists at Jamestown.
A single, distinctive coarseware jar made in Spain was recovered from James Fort. Parallels to this object have been discovered in Southampton and London, England, from contexts dating as early as the 15th century. Evidence suggests that the small jar with thick walls was used as a container for mercury. Mercury most assuredly was brought to Jamestown for medicinal purposes and probably also for extracting gold and silver from their ores.
attributes
Fabric: The fabric of olive jars is pink to pinkish-buff sometimes with a gray core, and it contains abundant coarse quartz sand inclusions, fissures, and often large air pockets. Exterior surfaces often appear to have a white slip which is actually a chemical reaction during the firing process making the surface turn white or buff-colored.
Glaze: Lead glazing appearing light to dark green, yellow, or sometimes appearing gray with a rough texture. Viewed under magnification this gray texture appears to be green lead glazing.
Form: Using Avery’s updated version of Goggin’s typology both 17th century Shape A (oblong-shaped) and Shape B (globular-shaped) olive jars with thick collar-like, or doughnut-shaped rims have been recovered from James Fort. A single jar with an everted rim resembles an olive jar form that dates to the 16th century.
selected artifacts
Olive Jar
related images
Spanish coarseware olive jar fabric
Spanish coarseware mercury jar fabric
Rim of a Spanish orza or flat bottomed storage jar
references
Avery, George E. Pots as Packaging: the Spanish Olive Jar and Andalusian Transatlantic CommercialActivity, 16th-18th Centuries. (1997) Doctoral Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI.
Hurst, John G., David S. Neal, and H.J.E. van Beuningen (1986) Pottery Produced and Traded in North-West Europe 1350-1650. Rotterdam Papers VI. Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
Woodall, John, Surgions mate, or A treatise discouering faithfully and plainely the due contents of the surgions chest (Published for the service of his Ma.tie and of the com:wealth: Text Creation Partnership, 2011) http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A66951.0001.001. Accessed July 3, 2020.
