 | Archaeology at La Isabela: America’s First European Town Subjects: La Isabela (Dominican Republic) -- History; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Dominican Republic; Spaniards -- Dominican Republic -- Antiquities; Indians -- First contact with Europeans; Dominican Republic -- Antiquities; In this important book, Kathleen Deagan and José María Cruxent present detailed technical documentation of their ten-year archaeological excavation of La Isabela, America's first colony. The artifacts 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. Kathleen Deagan is Distinguished Research Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. José María Cruxent is professor emeritus at Universidad Nacional y Experimental Francisco de Miranda in Coro, Venezuela. They are the coauthors of Columbus's Outpost among the Taínos: Spain and America at La Isabela, 1493-1498, also published by Yale University Press. |
