Texas beyond the periphery : an archaeological study of the Spanish missions during the 18th century

Abstract

The majority of Spanish settlement in Texas took place during the 18th century when Spain was recovering from a serious economic decline that began ca. 1580 and continued until 1760. Spain's failure to maintain her settlements in Texas has been attributed to this economic decline--frequently referred to as "the century of depression." In order to demonstrate that Spain's deteriorating economy affected her New World settlements, ceramic assemblages were examined from six missions. Because ceramics have long been used as economic indicators of social status, the frequency and variety of wares was examined to assess whether or not they reflected Spain's declining economy. In particular, compositional analyses of the less well-known wares were conducted to try to determine their place of origin and, hence, distinguish which wares were locally made or imported to the missions. The results of the analysis indicated that there was a strong reliance on locally-made and Mexican-made ceramics and little reliance on European wares. Because the missions were established during recognized periods of economic stagnation, it was determined that they were participating in a local economy which was not benefiting the economy of Spain.