diff --git a/src/control.js b/src/control.js
index 81af7819..36987b75 100644
--- a/src/control.js
+++ b/src/control.js
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ $.ControlAnchor = {
  * element.
  * @class
  * @param {Element} element - the control element to be anchored in the container.
- * @param {Object} options - All required and optional settings for configuring a control element
+ * @param {Object | OpenSeadragon.ControlAnchor } options - All required and optional settings for configuring a control element.  A deprecated
+ * alternative to passing an object with properties is to just pass an OpenSeadragon.ControlAnchor.  The target
+ * removal date for this deprecated alternative is December 2013.
  * @param {OpenSeadragon.ControlAnchor} [options.anchor=OpenSeadragon.ControlAnchor.NONE] - the position of the control
  *  relative to the container.
  * @param {Boolean} [options.attachToViewer=true] - Whether the control should be added directly to the viewer, or
@@ -74,6 +76,11 @@ $.ControlAnchor = {
  */
 $.Control = function ( element, options, container ) {
     var parent = element.parentNode;
+    //Deprecated.  Target removal date is December 2013
+    if (typeof options === 'number')
+    {
+         options = {anchor: options};
+    }
     options.attachToViewer = (typeof options.attachToViewer === 'undefined') ? true : options.attachToViewer;
     this.autoFade = (typeof options.autoFade === 'undefined') ? true : options.autoFade;
     this.element    = element;