Abstract
This article presents a detailed study of crossbows recovered from the shipwrecks of Padre Island, Texas, dating to 1554. Traditional archaeological and historical analysis is enhanced by production of working replicas of the light Spanish-style crossbows. A possible maritime adaptation of the weapon is identified.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Aiton, Arthur S. 1939 The Muster Roll and Equipment of the Expedition of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. Bulletin 30. William Clements Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Arnold, J. Barto III 1992 Shipwreck!—the 1554 Flota Exhibit. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 21(4):343–350.
Arnold, J. Barto III, and Molly F. Godwin 1990 A Hilt from the 1554 Flota. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 19(3):221–224.
Arnold, J. Barto III, and Robert S. Weddle 1978 The Nautical Archeology of Padre Island: The Spanish Shipwrecks of 1554. Academic Press, New York.
Behem, Balthasar 1505 Codex picturatus Balthasaris Behem. Manuscript No. 16. Jagellonian Library, Cracow, Poland.
Bergman, Christopher A. 1993 The Development of the Bow in Western Europe: A Technical and Functional Perspective. In Hunting and Animal Exploitation in the Later Paleolithic and Mesolithic of Eurasia, edited by Gail Larsen Peterkin, Harvey M. Bricker, and Paul Mellars. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association No. 4:95–105. American Anthropological Association, Washington, D.C.
Calvert, Albert F. 1907 Spanish Arms and Armour: Being a Historical and Descriptive Account of the Royal Armoury of Madrid. John Lane, London.
Díaz del Castillo, Bernal 1963 The Conquest of New Spain. Penguin, London.
Dye, David H. 1989 Death March of Hernando de Soto. Archaeology 42(3):26–31.
Ewen, Charles R. 1989a Anhaica: Discovery of Hernando de Soto’s 1539–1540 Winter Camp. In First Encounters: Spanish Explorations in the Caribbean and the United States, 1492–1570, edited by Jerald T. Milanich and Susan Milbrath, pp. 110–118. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida Press, Gainesville.
1989b Apalachee Winter. Archaeology 42(3):37–39.
Foley, Vernard, George Palmer, and Werner Soedel 1985 The Crossbow. Scientific American 252(1):104–110.
García de Palacio, Diego 1986 Instrucción Nauthica, 1587, translated by J. Bankston. The Press, Bisbee, Arizona.
Guilmartin, John F., Jr. 1980 Gunpowder and Galleys: Changing Technology and Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the Sixteenth Century. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Gush, George 1982 Renaissance Armies. Second edition. Patrick Stephens, Cambridge.
Hardy, Robert 1977 Longbow: A Social and Military History. Arco Publishing, New York.
Harmuth, Egon 1986 Die Armbrust: Ein Handbuch. Akademische Druckund Verlagsanstalt, Graz, Austria.
Hibbens, Frank, Ben Benjamin, and Mildred S. Adler 1985 Comanche Springs: The Spanish Period at Comanche Springs, New Mexico; A Silver Assaying Station of the Early Seventeenth Century. The Artifact 23(3):41–78.
Hordes, Stanley M. 1992 Sixteenth-Century Spanish Campsite in the Tiguex Province: An Historical Perspective. In Current Research on the Late Prehistory and Early History of New Mexico, edited by Bradley J. Vierra. Special Publication 1:155–164. New Mexico Archaeological Council, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Johnson, Byron A. 1992 Arms and Armor of the Spanish Conquest. In Current Research on the Late Prehistory and Early History of New Mexico, edited by Bradley J. Vierra. Special Publication 1:147–153. New Mexico Archaeological Council, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Karcheski, Walter J. 1990 Arms and Armor of the Conquistador, 1492–1600: A Catalogue of Arms and Armor for the Exhibit, First Encounters: Spanish Explorations of the Caribbean and United States, 1492–1570. Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville.
Keith, Donald H. 1987 The Molasses Reef Wreck. Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Kirsch, Peter 1990 The Galleon: The Great Ships of the Armada Era. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland.
McDonald, David, and J. Barto Arnold III 1979 Documentary Sources for the Wreck of the New Spain Fleet of 1554. Texas Antiquities Committee, Austin.
Morris, Roger 1992 Atlantic Sea Faring. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, Hong Kong.
Olds, Dorris L. 1976 Texas Legacy from the Gulf. Texas Antiquities Committee, Austin.
Payne-Gallwey, Sir Ralph, Bt. 1976 The Crossbow: Mediœval and Modern, Military and Sporting. Second edition. Holland Press, London.
Peterson, Harold L. 1956 Arms and Armor in Colonial America, 1526–1783. Bramhall House, New York.
Rosloff, Jay, and J. Barto Arnold III 1984 The Keel of the San Esteban (1554): Continued Analysis. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 13(4):287–296.
Skowronek, Russell K. 1987 Ceramics and Commerce: The 1554 flota Revisited. Historical Archaeology 21(2):101–111.
Vargas Machuca, Bernardo 1892 Milicia y descripción de las Indias. Reprint of 1599 edition. Libería de Victoriano Suarez, Madrid.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arnold, J.B., Watson, D.R. & Keith, D.H. The Padre Island crossbows. Hist Arch 29, 4–19 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373578
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373578