| Type Name: | EL MORRO |
| Type Index: | LEAD GLAZED COARSE EARTHENWARE |
| Production Origin: | IBERIA, MEXICO? |
| Date Range: | 1550-1700 |
| Defining Attributes: |
Poorly compacted, sand-tempered, coarse earthenware paste ranging in color from cream to beige to reddish-brown. Surfaces are minimally smoothed.. Thin, transparent lead glaze applied most commonly to one, but sometimes both surfaces. Sand temper elements often protrude into the glaze, producing a gritty or granular surface. Glaze color is most often yellow-orange, green or rust-colored. |
| Vessel Forms: |
BACIN BOWL ESCUDILLA PITCHER PLATO TAZA |
| Comments: | El Morro differs from other lead-glazed coarse earthenwares in its poorly smoothed surface, gritty texture and thin, transparent glaze. Lead-glazed coarse earthenwares matching this description have been found in early 16th century Caribbean sites, as well as later sites throughout the region, and it is likely that Iberian and Mexican wares are grouped together under this rubric. |
| Published Definitions: | Smith 1962, Deagan 1987 |