Armed to the Teeth: The Archaeology of Arms Procurement and Use in the Early 19th-Century Gulf of Mexico

Summary

The first half of the 19th-century was a tumultuous period in the Gulf of Mexico as European and regional powers competed for territorial dominance. As immigration into the northern Gulf of Mexico increased, age-old rivalries erupted while new independent nations emerged. In such a climate, maritime supremacy was essential – foreign and local navies representing every major power were present, new and sometimes ad-hoc navies were created, and privateers capitalized on the unrest - often acting in concert with revolutionary factions. Within this diverse arena, three archeological sites off Texas and Louisiana have been investigated in the past two decades that contain arms and/or artillery. The artifacts from the Pass Cavallo Shipwreck, discovered in 1998, are reassessed in comparison with more contemporary discoveries that collectively help develop a broader understanding of these regional marine-based assemblage types and allude to the dynamic character of the period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• To "Hazard a Turbulent Sea:" Marine Archaeology in the Gulf of Mexico--Examining 500 Years of Exploration and Exploitation   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 774