Archaeology at La Isabela

Book excerpt: In this volume, Kathleen Deagan and Jose Maria Cruxent present detailed technical documentation of their ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artefacts and material remains of the town offer rich material for comparative research into Euro-American cultural and material development during the crucial transition from the medieval era to the Renaissance. The period when La Isabela was in existence witnessed great innovation and change in many areas of technology. The archaeological evidence of La Isabela's architecture, weaponry, numismatics, pottery and metallurgy can be precisely dated, helping to chart the sequence of this change and revealing much that is new about late medieval technology. The authors' archaeological research also provides a foundation for their insights into the reasons for the demise of La Isabela.