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From root Tue May  7 20:01:43 1996
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Date:         Tue, 7 May 1996 22:00:04 +0400
Reply-To: Kevin Leonard <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Archaeology List <[log in to unmask]>
From: Kevin Leonard <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Cristobal medallion
To: Multiple recipients of list ARCH-L <[log in to unmask]>
 
 
I'm working at Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, Canada,
monitoring trenching for campground expansion. Today one of the workers
brought in a large copper medallion which he found some time ago near the
park, "about four feet down," aided by a metal detector. At 7 cm diameter
and 4 or so mm thick, it fills the palm of your hand and hefts
impressively. On one side is the stamped (or moulded) figure (waist up) of
a valiant-looking man of middle age with shoulder-length hair, wearing a
cloak. He has his back towards you and is staring triumphantly over his
left shoulder. The medallion is very worn, somewhat worse for wear, and
appears to be old enough to be legit. To the left of the man, the writing
which curls around the circumferance of the object begins with the word:
"CRISTOBAL". The only other letters that I can read, out of the total
string of text, which fills the top half of the circumferance, are either
"RR" or "BR", way over near the end of the text string.
        On the other side, a beautiful lady wearing a crown and holding a
scepter in a most graceful pose is seated on what appears to be a disc or
orb. She wears a clingy, flowing, gown and is really something to behold.
Text appears inside the top two thirds of the circumferance of the
medallion and is much more readable than on the other side. The text
begins: "SU GENIO VISLUMBLODE (the last 5 or 6 letters are iffy) MUNDO
(followed by about 10 letters, then about 10 more, which look like)
HEROICOLE DESCUBRIO" (the last word is clear). The only words I'm really
sure of are "SU GENIO ... MUNDO ... DESCUBRIO" which are Spanish or Latin.
"SU" is "yours" and "GENIO" has several meanings, including "disposition,"
"bad temper," "genius," "peculiarities," and "spirit, genie." MUNDO is
"world." "DESCUBRIO" means (I think) "discovery" (noun). Heroism is implied
by "HEROICOLE". My best guess is (roughly translated): "Your illustrious
genius rules the world you heriocally discovered"
        Could this be Christopher Columbus on one side and Queen Isabella
on the other, a medallion honouring Columbus' voyage of discovery? Don't
forget, Basque and Portugese fishermen and whalers were present in the Gulf
of St Lawrence in the early 1500's, and were trading with the Mi'kmaq. I
have no information on context yet, but the man who owns the medallion
would undoubtedly take me to the spot where he found it and describe its
context as best he could, should I ask him to.
        One last detail: at the top of the circumferance, a copper
"chain-hole" (hole facing viewer of medallion face) has been soldered on,
posssibly later, or original equipment but repaired later, with what
appears to be brass solder.
        I've never seen anything like it. I've checked "Trade Ornament
Usage among the Native Peoples of Canada" by Karlis Karkins (1992) and
other books in my library, to no avail. I have to be in the field again
tommorow. Any help much appreciated.
 
Thanks,
Kevin