Three prehistoric site areas on the Oregon coast have yielded Chinese porcelains. Two are located on the south side of the sand spit at Nehalem Bay (35-TI-4; 35-TI-4b), and the third site is located within the sand spit at Netarts (35-TI-1).

While Spanish galleons are often suggested as the sole source of these materials, the archaeological and historical evidence suggests otherwise. In all, the remains of at least two and probably four ships have been reported. The timber from one ship and a ship’s pulley have been radiocarbon dated, and much of the porcelain has been analyzed. Dates for the prehistoric sites, the ships’ wood, and the porcelains are comparable. Stylistically, however, the two porcelain assemblages represent separate origins.