The Wreck Of The Galleon San Agustin: A Case Study In Economics, Exploration, And European Development Of The Pacific Rim.

Summary

For over two centuries galleons carried treasure and commodities between Asia and Mexico, crossing the Pacific along established routes that took advantage of currents and winds. The voyage was difficult and the hardships endured were extreme. At least four are known to have been lost along the Pacific coast between Washington and Baja California, although none have been recovered archaeologically. In California, just north of the San Francisco Bay, the galleon San Agustin was wrecked at Pt. Reyes. The San Agustin has been sought by archaeologists and treasure hunters for decades. While there is little new regarding the ship, this paper will use San Agustin as a case study to contextualize the search for Manila galleons generally, focus on their critical role in the Pacific economy, and emphasize why scientific study of Manila galleons is relevant for understanding the complex history of the Pacific rim.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Manila Galleon Archaeology in the American Continent   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 258