Accession Number

1986.008.3043

Alternate object names

Seeds

Creation Date

circa 1620

Description

Seeds of the wine grape (Vitis vinifera) were just one type of foodstuff discovered at the wreck of the galleon Atocha. Along with seeds from pumpkin, squash, chili pepper, and olives, these small organic remains give us a glimpse into the diet aboard a galleon. These grape seeds probably came from raisins, which would have kept better than fresh grapes for the long voyage aboard the ship.

 

Exhibition Label

Case Caption (2023): 

Loading Provisions

Juan de Veas, aboard the Santa Margarita, and Diego de Medina, on the Nuestra Señora de Atocha held the posts of steward on their respective ships. In every port these officers would go ashore to bargain with local merchants for water, wine, cheese, and barrels of pork or beef preserved in salt. These were the basics of the crews’ diet, and it was up to each steward to purchase enough provisions without exceeding his budget for the voyage. Fishing was only an option if the ships were becalmed.

Officers and well-to-do passengers paid the stewards to buy them better provisions. The bottle tops found on the ships would have capped glass bottles holding brandy or fortified wine. In Havana, the stewards would have purchased live animals to be butchered during the voyage, ranging from cattle and hogs to chickens and turtles. These were expensive and
took up valuable space, but fresh meat was far preferable to salted.

Seeds from pumpkins, squash, chili peppers and olives, as well as nuts and dried fruit would have added some variety. However, rats, roaches, and other pests constantly attacked and contaminated the food, as the gnawed hazelnut shells indicate here.


 
Object Caption (2023):

Grape Seeds
Vitis vinifera (c.1622)
Gift of Jamestown Inc.
1986.008.3043