Identifying the Capitana
At the invitation of the Direction of the Cultural Patrimony of Ecuador and of Sub America Discoveries, Inc. Company, I have inspected an assemblage of cultural material excavated from a 17th-century shipwreck located 1 nautical mile offshore from the town of El Real, Ecuador, in 10 meters of water. From Saturday, March 29th through April 3rd, 1997, I was aboard the R/V Explorer, and inspected a wide variety of cultural materials being excavated from the wreck site. Over two thousand silver coins and one gold coin were brought up during that particular period, along with a large silver bar, pottery shards, encrusted objects, some tentatively identified as iron (fe) fasteners, and copper-based (Cu) cannon balls.
A vast majority of the silver coins were in an excellent state of preservation, and many could be identified without cleaning being required. All the identifiable coins were minted in Potosí, present-day Bolivia, formerly known as Upper Perú. Potosí was the single largest source of silver in the 17th and 18th centuries. None of the coins I examined were dated earlier than 1649, and the terminal date was 1654. Large denominations, such as 8-reales, made up the bulk of the numismatic assemblage. A fair percentage of 4-reales were noted, with few small denominations such as 1 and 2 reales. Most of the coins that could be dated to 1649-1651, were counter struck. Similar counter struck coins have been discovered within the archaeological context of the shipwreck of the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, sunk on the Little Bahama Bank during the night of January 4, 1656. The Maravillas carried two million pesos of the treasure salvaged from the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción which Left Callao on 18 October 1654, and was lost off Chanduy Reef on the 27th of October 1654.
The gold coin was identified as a 2-escudo minted in 1652 in Seville, Spain (Type 31, nº 129, p. 237,Numismatica Española, 1474-1988, F. Calicó, X. Calicó, & J. Trigo, 7th edition, Barcelona, 1988).
The silver bar was diagnostic in the sense that it displayed several markings, including the date 1654 in Arabic numerals. The weight was indicated as 128 M. The M stands for marcos. There are 2 marcos to a pound, making this bar 64 pounds. A small Cross-of-Jerusalem was incised to the right of the weight markings. The Roman numerals 27 (XXVII) represents a manifest number. The “Ley” or fineness number was incised in an odd fashion 2M376, i.e. 2376 on a scale of 2400, making this bar very pure. The fineness number is usually displayed in Roman numerals. A shipper’s or owner’s mark in the form of a monogram comprised of a N or M, a E and a lozenge . Subject to further analysis, this mark could be the monogram of Capitán Juan de Melo. On Friday, March 28th, another silver bar was found. The bar bears a marking in the shape of a large L with a lozenge (L). This particular mark was registered to Capitán Juan Fernandez de Orozco, and consigned aboard the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción, also known as la Capitana. The olive jars, based on shape and rim characteristics, are of Type A, typical of the 17th-century olive jars excavated from securely dated shipwrecks, and appear to have had an average capacity of 17 liters, large enough to accommodate the Castilian wine arroba of 16.133 liters. Similar jars were found on a notable wreck from the period, the Santo António de Tanná, a Portuguese ship built at Bassein near Bombay in 1680, and lost in front of Fort Jesus, in 1697, in Mombasa, Kenya (Sassoon, 1981). Another securely dated wreck, which yielded similar olive jars, is the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost at the southernmost portion of the Florida Keys in 1622.
The copper-based (Cu) cannonballs are remarkable in the sense that copper-based or bronze cannonballs have never been reported in the archaeological or historical context. The intrinsic value of copper during the 17th-century was very high. The production of bronze cannon, for instance, typically cost between 7 and 8 times more than that of an iron one. The presence of the copper-based cannonballs might be explained by the fact that there was no known source of iron (Fe) in the New World during that period, and that the entire region of Chile, Perú, and Ecuador is rich in copper deposits. I surmise that the cannonballs were also considered as bullion, and, if not needed for defense during the sailing from Callao to Panamá, they would be traded and/or bartered, and taken back to Spain to be melted down. The ship would have then rearmed with common iron cannonballs. In order to be called bronze, it must be determined if tin is present in a substantial percentage. I suggest that an elemental analysis, using atomic absorption spectrometry, be eventually conducted. Interpretation of results may help determine the source of the copper based on trace elements detected in the cannonballs.
Examinations of elements of the hull remains, and measurements of various parts such as the keelson, futtocks, floor timbers, hanging knees, etc., suggest a very large sailing vessel. Size of frames, floor timbers and futtocks, as well as distance and space between single and double frames suggest a ship of between 1000 and 1300 tons displacement, and an overall length of between 120 and 130 feet. Due to poor visibility and the amount of overburden covering the site, I have not been able to determine as yet which section of the ship is presently exposed, but keelson is clearly visible, as well as some large knees (an angular piece of timber used to reinforce the junction of two surfaces of different planes). Also diagnostic is the wood of the hull elements observed in situ, i.e. guachapelí, which is reddish in appearance; the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción was built at shipyards in Guayaquil in 1645 where shipwrights used various local woods such as cañafístolo (for the keel), mangle (for the keelson and futtocks), guachapelí (for the main hull), etc. It is noteworthy that guachapelí is the most characteristic of woods used in the shipyards of Guayaquil and is thus one of the most diagnostic elements of this particular wreck; in itself it serves as an identifier.
Based on all the cultural material and organic remains (woods) that I have examined I can safely state that the ship being presently excavated is the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción, also known as la Capitana. There is not one single element that could suggest another identity or dating for this particular shipwreck.
Aboard the R/V Explorer, off El Real, Ecuador, 2nd of April 1997.
John de Bry
At the invitation of the Direction of the Cultural Patrimony of Ecuador and of Sub America Discoveries, Inc. Company, I have inspected an assemblage of cultural material excavated from a 17th-century shipwreck located 1 nautical mile offshore from the town of El Real, Ecuador, in 10 meters of water. From Saturday, March 29th through April 3rd, 1997, I was aboard the R/V Explorer, and inspected a wide variety of cultural materials being excavated from the wreck site. Over two thousand silver coins and one gold coin were brought up during that particular period, along with a large silver bar, pottery shards, encrusted objects, some tentatively identified as iron (fe) fasteners, and copper-based (Cu) cannon balls.
A vast majority of the silver coins were in an excellent state of preservation, and many could be identified without cleaning being required. All the identifiable coins were minted in Potosí, present-day Bolivia, formerly known as Upper Perú. Potosí was the single largest source of silver in the 17th and 18th centuries. None of the coins I examined were dated earlier than 1649, and the terminal date was 1654. Large denominations, such as 8-reales, made up the bulk of the numismatic assemblage. A fair percentage of 4-reales were noted, with few small denominations such as 1 and 2 reales. Most of the coins that could be dated to 1649-1651, were counter struck. Similar counter struck coins have been discovered within the archaeological context of the shipwreck of the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, sunk on the Little Bahama Bank during the night of January 4, 1656. The Maravillas carried two million pesos of the treasure salvaged from the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción which Left Callao on 18 October 1654, and was lost off Chanduy Reef on the 27th of October 1654.
The gold coin was identified as a 2-escudo minted in 1652 in Seville, Spain (Type 31, nº 129, p. 237,Numismatica Española, 1474-1988, F. Calicó, X. Calicó, & J. Trigo, 7th edition, Barcelona, 1988).
The silver bar was diagnostic in the sense that it displayed several markings, including the date 1654 in Arabic numerals. The weight was indicated as 128 M. The M stands for marcos. There are 2 marcos to a pound, making this bar 64 pounds. A small Cross-of-Jerusalem was incised to the right of the weight markings. The Roman numerals 27 (XXVII) represents a manifest number. The “Ley” or fineness number was incised in an odd fashion 2M376, i.e. 2376 on a scale of 2400, making this bar very pure. The fineness number is usually displayed in Roman numerals. A shipper’s or owner’s mark in the form of a monogram comprised of a N or M, a E and a lozenge . Subject to further analysis, this mark could be the monogram of Capitán Juan de Melo. On Friday, March 28th, another silver bar was found. The bar bears a marking in the shape of a large L with a lozenge (L). This particular mark was registered to Capitán Juan Fernandez de Orozco, and consigned aboard the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción, also known as la Capitana. The olive jars, based on shape and rim characteristics, are of Type A, typical of the 17th-century olive jars excavated from securely dated shipwrecks, and appear to have had an average capacity of 17 liters, large enough to accommodate the Castilian wine arroba of 16.133 liters. Similar jars were found on a notable wreck from the period, the Santo António de Tanná, a Portuguese ship built at Bassein near Bombay in 1680, and lost in front of Fort Jesus, in 1697, in Mombasa, Kenya (Sassoon, 1981). Another securely dated wreck, which yielded similar olive jars, is the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost at the southernmost portion of the Florida Keys in 1622.
The copper-based (Cu) cannonballs are remarkable in the sense that copper-based or bronze cannonballs have never been reported in the archaeological or historical context. The intrinsic value of copper during the 17th-century was very high. The production of bronze cannon, for instance, typically cost between 7 and 8 times more than that of an iron one. The presence of the copper-based cannonballs might be explained by the fact that there was no known source of iron (Fe) in the New World during that period, and that the entire region of Chile, Perú, and Ecuador is rich in copper deposits. I surmise that the cannonballs were also considered as bullion, and, if not needed for defense during the sailing from Callao to Panamá, they would be traded and/or bartered, and taken back to Spain to be melted down. The ship would have then rearmed with common iron cannonballs. In order to be called bronze, it must be determined if tin is present in a substantial percentage. I suggest that an elemental analysis, using atomic absorption spectrometry, be eventually conducted. Interpretation of results may help determine the source of the copper based on trace elements detected in the cannonballs.
Examinations of elements of the hull remains, and measurements of various parts such as the keelson, futtocks, floor timbers, hanging knees, etc., suggest a very large sailing vessel. Size of frames, floor timbers and futtocks, as well as distance and space between single and double frames suggest a ship of between 1000 and 1300 tons displacement, and an overall length of between 120 and 130 feet. Due to poor visibility and the amount of overburden covering the site, I have not been able to determine as yet which section of the ship is presently exposed, but keelson is clearly visible, as well as some large knees (an angular piece of timber used to reinforce the junction of two surfaces of different planes). Also diagnostic is the wood of the hull elements observed in situ, i.e. guachapelí, which is reddish in appearance; the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción was built at shipyards in Guayaquil in 1645 where shipwrights used various local woods such as cañafístolo (for the keel), mangle (for the keelson and futtocks), guachapelí (for the main hull), etc. It is noteworthy that guachapelí is the most characteristic of woods used in the shipyards of Guayaquil and is thus one of the most diagnostic elements of this particular wreck; in itself it serves as an identifier.
Based on all the cultural material and organic remains (woods) that I have examined I can safely state that the ship being presently excavated is the Jesús María de la Limpia Concepción, also known as la Capitana. There is not one single element that could suggest another identity or dating for this particular shipwreck.
Aboard the R/V Explorer, off El Real, Ecuador, 2nd of April 1997.
John de Bry
