Ongoing Care and Study Through a Digital Catalogue of Port Royal

Part of: Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Ongoing Care and Study Through a Digital Catalogue of Port Royal," at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Called the ‘Wickedest City on Earth,’ Port Royal, Jamaica, was the second largest mercantile center in the English colonies during the late 17th century. The bustling port town was destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1692. In 1981, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA), Texas A&M University, and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust began a 10-year underwater archaeological investigation. Five buildings were investigated, including a multi-purpose shop and residential houses. Remains of a ship were also identified.

The papers in this session revisit the artifacts and their continued care in light of recent efforts to digitize the records in a transferable database. These efforts involve continued efforts of archaeology, extending beyond excavation. This collaborative project between faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students at Texas A&M used a digital museum database, PastPerfect, to prepare for repatriation and provided research opportunities for students. Such projects highlight the continued work and value of archaeology.

Other Keywords
Conservation • collaboration • Digital • cataloguing • Metals • Catalogue • Repatriation • Nautical Archaeology • Clay Tobacco Pipes • Port Royal

Geographic Keywords
Americas • Saint Catherine (State / Territory) • Manchester (State / Territory) • Clarendon (State / Territory) • Saint Andrew (State / Territory) • Hanover (State / Territory) • Saint Mary (State / Territory) • Portland (State / Territory) • Jamaica (Country) • Saint Thomas (State / Territory)