Artifact from the Atocha - Wooden Bed Post

Perhaps one of the more unique finds from the Atocha is that of a turned wooden bed post. This fragment of opulent furniture was located not far from the Primary Cultural Deposit. The Wood was so hard that when first located crew believed that the object might be modern. The first order of investigation was to identify the type of wood that the bed post was made of.

For wood identification, we have used the services of; Alden Identification Service. Dr. Alden identified our post as Lignum Vitae (from Latin “Tree of Life”) . The common name, Lignum-vitae, is actually a Latin phrase meaning "tree of life" as it was originally (16th C) thought to cure syphilis and other diseases (coughs, gout, rheumatism and arthritis).

The selection of the wood is of significance, the general importance of Lignum vitae is clear, as having medicinal and spiritual properties that a wealthy colonial Spaniard would have sought. The post was created on a lathe and these were run by hand or with the use of a simple machine. The fact that our fleet and much of the cargo it carried is from the South American area would indicate that this object was produced in what was most likely the area of the Vice Regency of Peru.

The bed frame (example shown in photo) gives a unique view into the more intimate lives of wealthy colonists. The bed post while not of great intrinsic value allows us to look into the private lives of these long-gone people.