Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

Artifacts of Padre Island

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A four-real piece of the late series minted between 1542-1572

PAIS 1575A

519 x 500
0.2 MB

A two-real coin of the Carlos and Johanna late series (minted between 1542-1572).

PAIS 1590B

567 x 500
0.2 MB

A four-real coin of the Carlos and Johanna late series (minted between 1542-1572).

PAIS 1575B

563 x 500
0.2 MB

A two-real coin of the Carlos and Johanna late series (minted between 1542-1572).

PAIS 1590A

586 x 500
0.2 MB

These were made during the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who commissioned Columbus's initial voyage to the new world. Note that it is a completely different design than that of the later Carlos and Johanna series.

PAIS 1525A

594 x 500
0.2 MB

This is the reverse of the rare Carlos and Johanna early series coin.

PAIS 1616B

1449 x 1392
1.0 MB

This is the reverse of the Ferdinand and Isabella coin.

PAIS 1525B

563 x 500
0.2 MB

This coin was produced in Mexico City between 1539-1542 and is known as one of the "early series" of reales produced during the reign of King Carlo and Queen Johanna of Spain. There are an estimated 200-300 of these in existence in the world. The National Seashore is quite fortunate to have a few of this very rare piece.

PAIS 1616A

529 x 500
0.1 MB

Archaic dart point (2800 BC to 500 AD)

PAIS 1181

384 x 512
0.1 MB

Refugio type point of the Middle to Early Archaic periods (2000 BC to 500 BC)

PAIS 1226

384 x 512
0.1 MB

Archaic dart point (2800 BC to 500 AD)

PAIS 3385

384 x 512
0.1 MB

This Angostura-Plainview type of point dates from the paleo-Indian to the early Archaic periods (8000 BC to 6000 BC). Note that the latest this point was probably made is about 3,000 years before the island formed at its earliest (3000 BC). This may have washed up from sites now submerged offshore that were land before the Gulf rose to its current levels.

PAIS 2927

384 x 512
0.1 MB

Archaic projectile point (3000 BC to 1000 AD)

PAIS 1232

384 x 512
0.1 MB

Early archaic period banner stone (7000 BC to 3000 BC). This very rare piece is made of a greenish, almost jade-like stone. Normally associated with burials in eastern North America, banner stones have been found at only one other location in Texas. Banner stones have been found only in association with burials. Their use is unknown, but they may have been burial offerings.

PAIS 1502

384 x 512
0.1 MB

Adze of the Clear Fork gouge type dating from the paleo-Indian to the Archaic period (8000 BC to 1000 AD). Adzes were used to shape wood or other materials into objects such as bowls.

PAIS 1501

75 x 100
0.0 MB

Archaic knife point (2800 BC to 500 AD)

PAIS 3386

384 x 512
0.1 MB

"Sand roses" also known as "gypsum roses" are rocks that form as water rises and falls depositing layer upon layer of gypsum crystals into sand. The gypsum crystals grow, trapping the sand into patterns resembling flowers. The Laguna Madre is the only place in Texas where sand roses may be found. However, they are rare.

Sand rose

1536 x 2048
1.4 MB

This broken specimen makes for an excellent illustration of a fulgurite cross section. The center of the sand was vaporized by the lightning resulting in a tube.

Fulgurite 3

241 x 345
0.0 MB

This large fulgurite sample shows how the exterior of a fulgurite column. Note that the broken ends indicate this was a section of a larger piece. Fulgurite may extend deep into the ground and form branches just as a lightning bolt may.

Fulgurite 2

1536 x 2048
1.5 MB

pais 3757

pais 3757

1536 x 2048
1.3 MB

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