El juego y la creatividad.

Another unique characteristic found in the Atocha (1622) collection are incised shoulder marks found scratched into the vessel walls. Although scratched markings have been recorded on a ceramic mortar (Chapter 5) from the Spanish Armada (Martin, 1987 : pers. comm.), examples outside of the Atocha context on the shoulders of olive jar-type botijas have yet to be identified. The practice does, however, raise questions as to the evidence indicating that the jars were covered in matting(discussed later). If the j ars were "covered to the mouth” then it seems unlikely that the marks were used as identification of contents or owners.

It is important to note that all the recorded shoulder marks were scratched onto the jars after firing. Another possibility is that the shoulder marks which resemble Roman numerals "are tally marks intended to keep a count of completed batches of jars. This would explain why they were scratched on after firing, and it would also mean that the woven matting 'up to the neck' would no longer be a problem" (Martin, 1989: pers. comm.).

OUVE JAR-TYPE BOTIJAS

Fig. 4.53 looks as though there are two separate owner or shippers’ marks engraved on the upper shoulder of the jar. The combination may indicate that the jar was to be shipped from one to the other. The marks depict a five pointed star with a sideways "V” and an arrow passing through the middle of an“X” . It may also be a message of some sort, or simply a doodle over a batch mark.

Fig. 4.54. Shoulder mark. 1622. Scale 111.

Fig. 4.54. An incised shoulder mark in the form of a cross.

Fig. 4.55. An incised shoulder mark of a Roman numeral “X”.

Fig. 4.56. An incised shoulder mark of a partial _{shoulder mark.} Roman numeral “X”. Fig. 4.56. Incised shoulder mark. 1622. Scale HI. Fig. 458. Incised shoulder mark. 1622. Scale HI.

Fig. 4.57. An incised shoulder mark of an “X”.

Fig. 457. Incised shoulder mark.

Fig. 4.58. An incised shoulder mark of a horizontal ^d22. Scale HI.

line with a vertical slash on the left and a perpendicular slash starting on the horizontal line running down.

OUVE JAR-TYPE BOTIJAS

FLAT-BOTTOMED OLIVE JAR-^TYPE BO TIJAS

Along with the large sample of conventional botija material, sherds from large, flat bottomed vessels of coarse red-orange coloured paste, with numerous micacaeous inclusions, have been identified on two wrecks and represent a previously unidentified type of olive jar-type botija. The paste is very similar to the botija fabric although the sherds are in some cases more light tan to orange in colour and of a slightly softer fabric. The recovered examples consist almost entirely of basal pieces, and round “disc” bottoms. Evidence of pitch on the vessel bottoms looks similar to the pitch found in the botija sample. These vessels, which aU have similar dimensions, appear to be wheel thrown. The thick sides are pulled upwards from a flattened base flaring outward to the shoulder, where they then invert to a rimmed mouth. Coils of extra clay may have been added to increase the height and size of the vessels. The vessel walls approaching the shoulder to the neck are substantially thinner than the lower section and may suggest coils were not added in the procedure as the clay was running out.

While in Bermuda, salvage diver Teddy Tucker reported to me seeing flat-bottomed storage vessels similar to olive jar-type botijas although none were available for study. However the large collection of sherds recovered from ihtAtocha (1622), and the recon­ struction of one vessel, provide enough evidence to validate his claim. On the basis of numerous intact basal pieces and several intact rim and shoulder sections with Type 5 rims, it was speculated that the flat bottomed jars represent a previously unidentified part of the olive jar-type botija family.

In January 1987, while the Atocha collection was being curated for the Florida State Museum, after days had been spent attempting to match a flat bottom with a Type 5 rim,

lab assistant Arlene Rowoid made a chance crucial link which provided firm evidence that the flat-bottomed wares were indeed associated with the rims and botija type containers. A basal section was found to match an inward curving shoulder section that is characteristic of the large collection of wide mouthed rims in the Atocha assemblage. To date, however, there has been only one successful reconstruction to aid in the identification of the vessel form.

It was difficult to match the flat bases with the inward curving Type 5 rims as the typical basal examples exhibit a flaring outwards of the vessel walls (inverted bell shape) with no evidence of a curvature back towards a smaller neck and rim. The overall size of the sherds suggests a vessel probably used for storage, as the presence in the lower hull portion of wreck deposit would indicate. Evidence of similar containers has occurred on land sites (Deagan, 1978:35; 1987:36), although the majority have been reported to have been green glazed or dipped in a white slip. There is no evidence of a glaze on any of the Atocha flat bottomed utility storage containers. Their presence is so far limited to the early 17th century, with the majority of samples from 1622 and a similar base recovered from the Santa Ana Maria wrecked in 1627 off Castletownsend, County Cork, Ireland (Martin, 1989: letter on file).

The absence of intact forms in conjunction with such a large assemblage of sherds may provide a crucial clue in explaining its presence in one small time period. The bases are sturdy with thickened walls with widely spaced throwing marks. As the walls approach the shoulders they become proportionately thinner and the throwing marks become more regular and much closer together. A sherd section from the upper portion of the jars is easily differentiated from the basal portion.

OLIVE JAR-TYPE BOTIJAS

Haste of manufacture and the overall lack of pride taken in the construction of vessels used for storage is well portrayed in Plate 4.5. The wet vessel, probably just after throwing, was pushed from the wheel head by the potter’s hand as the print clearly indicates.