A step to a global world – Historical Archaeology in Panamá: German Researches on the first Spanish city on the Pacific Ocean

Description

In this publication the results of an archaeological research project conducted by the Department of Medieval Archaeology of the University of Tübingen, Institute for Prehistory and Medieval Archaeology, under the leadership of Barbara Scholkmann during the years 2003 to 2009 in the ruins of Panamá la Vieja (Panama City, Rep. Panamá) have been published. The Spanish colonial town of Panamá la Vieja, was founded in 1519 and was the first city on the pacific coast. It was a centre of the Spanish colonial empire with vast strategic and economic importance until it was destroyed by English pirates in 1671 and at this place subsequently abandoned. Numerous ruins, especially of large buildings such as the cathedral, the abbey churches and some secular buildings, have been preserved until now without being disturbed by modern development. Thus, the ruin city represents an ideal field of research for archaeological investigations. Six campaign excavations were carried out in the city's former hospital San Juan de Dios as well as in a large building complex, which were used for the handling of goods. At the west end some sondages were conducted to get information about structures in the outlying district. The entire area of the city was prospected geomagneticallyand a topographic map was produced for a large part of the terrain. Several ruin-complexes were measured and examined by archaeologists specialized in architecture. The recovered find material was reviewed and subsequently catalogued and classified parallel to the excavation work. The entire stock of finds from older archaeological investigations was also documented in the context of a post-doc project. With the aid of statistic analyses and patterns of find distribution it was possible to research questions concerning social structure, functional differentiation and the area inner-structure of the city. The results from the hospital were evaluated and the different find groups of the material culture were presented in the context of several academic theses. In the process some of the manifold and very interesting aspects were thematised which the first Spanish town on the Atlantic seaboard, abandoned in the 17th century and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can offer to European historical archaeology. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents Preface The archaeological research project of the University of Tübingen on the ruin site of Panamá la Vieja The history of archaeological research on the ruin site of Panamá la Vieja Geophysical investigation at Panamá Viejo Searching for healing –The research into written sources on the chronological history of the Hospital San Juan de Dios in Panama la Vieja The Hospital San Juan de Dios – Archaeological results The world in one place – A trading post in Panamá la Vieja in the 17th century Reformation, everyday life and half a world between – Did the Council of Trent affect the people of Panamá? Early majolica production in the New World – The kilns of Panamá Viejo Panamanian Coarse Handmade Earthenware –Cultural traditions and cultural change German stoneware in the Spanish colony of Old Panama Domestic animals in Panamá la Vieja – An analysis of bone material from the Convent of Las Monjas de la Concepción and the Hospital San Juan de Dios A European town in a tropical environment – Cultural adaptation and environmental change in colonial Panamá Studies in cultural processes – German historical archaeology at Panamá la Vieja List of illustrations