Page 155 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

126 N. T. Cuevas

Fig. 6.10 Japanese overglazed enamel large dish of Yoshida Kiln, Hizen area Boljoon, Cebu, ca.
1650–1670 (Bersales and de Leon 2011)

The excavation site in Porta Vaga, Cavite City established a clear contextual
deposition of trade ware types. These types consisted of mass-produced (Fujian)
wares and some high-quality (European) wares. Tatel (2002) discussed the majority
of ceramic sherds and reflected on over-all changing patterns. Trade ware coming
from the ports of Fujian and Guandong provinces were clearly abundant in the
layers from the 17th to the 18th century, while European wares notably appeared in
the 19th-century layers.
The presence of a Dehua jar let and Dehua !gurines in both the Beaterio de la
Compaña de Jesus and Arroceros sites suggests the high quality of Fujian ware
production that European consumers treasured during the period spanning the late
Ming to the early Qing period (17th to early 18th century). While the Dehua
!gurines from the Beaterio site may be viewed as supporting the historical record
that the Spanish elite had lived there in the 17th century, the white ware jar let from
the Arroceros Forest Park site may be regarded as a residue of the goods loaded and
unloaded in the wharf area.
The Boljoon site that yielded intact pieces of both Fujian and Hizen wares
suggests the vessels sacral function in ritual and mortuary activity. This mortuary