We Come In Peace, Identifying Spanish Military Behaviors Within New World Settlements
KENNETH R RICHTER
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2024
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Abstract
This thesis examines the artifact assemblage from the 1559 Luna Settlement to determine whether the site functioned primarily as a civilian settlement or an expeditionary military operation. Developing the South-Richter Military Pattern, a derivative of Stanley South’s artifact pattern analysis, sites are categorized based on the proportion of armament artifacts into four types: Civilian (5% or less armament), Military Presence (6-15%), Military Defended (16-25%), and Military Operation (over 25%). Seven other Spanish colonial sites, such as Saint Augustine, San Sabá, and Santa Elena, were selected to test this method and explore the coexistence of military and civilian roles in colonial settlements. Historical records, including letters and inventories, complement the archaeological data to assess the Luna Settlement's intended purpose. Spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to examine the distribution of artifacts within the Luna site to isolate potential areas of military and civilian activity. This research refines methods for analyzing mixed-use colonial sites and offers another way to examine Spanish colonial behaviors in the Americas.