Thanks Ron,
I intend to x-ray the jar next time the owner comes to town.  I'll check out the
Lister articles you mentioned.

Dave McMahan

Ron May wrote:

> In a message dated 2/22/01 2:02:44 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << I am soliciting help in the identification of a large ceramic jar or urn
>
>  that a fisherman excavated from the lower intertidal zone of Cook Inlet,
>
>  Alaska.  I have posted some pictures and other details at
>  http://www.alaska.net/~oha/urn/
>   >>
> Dave,  This urn looks suspiciously like the maritime oil transport jars used
> by Spanish merchants from the 15th through 18th centuries, which often got
> recycled as water jars here in California. The actual shapes varried because
> they were designed to be packed in cargo holds and as ballast. Spanish
> exploration of Alaska goes at least back to the Malaspina Expedition. Spain
> had a small cannon fort at Nootka. I suggest you pursue this line of
> research. Robert Lister published a number of articles and books on Spanish
> pottery, including storage jars. I suggest you arrange to have X-ray
> spectography or some other sourcing study on the clay to see if you can link
> it with known clay sources in Spain or Europe. You might check with Russell
> Skrowneck (spelling?) at the University of Santa Clara, California for
> guidance on this approach.
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.