Page 222 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

194 E. Von der Porten

Fig. 12.4 The desert shore with low dunes and sand flats covered with shells

Fig. 12.5 Porcelain sherds were covered by 10 cm of blowing sand in four days

In time, documentary studies gave us the name of the most likely ship, the San
Juanillo, or lesser San Juan, lost without trace after sailing from Manila in the
summer of 1578 under Captain Juan de Ribera. 3

12.3 Iberia and the Spanish Colonies

Metal detector work gave us the wide variety of !nds which made it possible to
identify many of the sources for the cargo, weaponry, and out!tting of the galleon
in this !rst decade of the Manila galleon trade, whose !rst successful voyages with
Chinese cargos had occurred in 1573.
These sources include Spain itself, and its European trade networks. We found
sheets of lead with the remains of iron tack heads (Fig. 12.6). Only Spanish and
Portuguese ships used lead sheathing with iron fastenings below the waterlines of

3
de Morga (1971, p. 62).