The Construction of Two Late 17th Century Iberian Frigates: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y Santiago Apostol and Santo Antonio de Tanná

Summary

The wrecks Nuestra Señora del Rosario y Santiago Apostol and the Santo Antonio de Tanná are the remains of two late 17th century Iberian warships. Both ships were constructed in colonial shipyards and were both lost in harbors of their nation’s colonies. These two ships were built to defend the colonial interests of Spain and Portugal respectively. The ships are of nearly identical size, carried the same number of cannon, and are both constructed of tropical hardwoods in the Iberian-Atlantic tradition. Rosario and Santo António de Tanná provide invaluable insights not only into colonial shipbuilding but also into the construction of European Iberian frigates in the final decades of the 17th century, in a time of constricted economics of both countries. This presentation, based upon a construction comparison, will present the similarities and differences of the shipbuilding traditions that produced these vessels.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Iberian Seafaring Studies : Bridging the Gap   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-25,03