Archaeological Investigations at Mission Concepción and Mission Parkway

Abstract

In September 1980, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) entered into a contract (No. CX702900023) with the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct archaeological studies at Mission Concepcion (41BX12). The studies would be designed to replot the original outline of the mission pueblo, to fmd the location of the mission granary, and to make an assessment of the state of preservation of the Indian quarters along the walls of the pueblo, all with minimum possible disturbance. Preliminary research began in October 1980. During this phase, CAR located deed records and surveyor's notes dating from the 1820s through the 1880s in the Bexar County Courthouse which gave what appeared to be a reasonably accurate outline of the mission pueblo and the location of the granary. Subsequent fieldwork began in December 1980. Over a period of 85 working days, fieldwork confirmed the results of the preliminary research. Excavations showed that the foundations of the east wall of the pueblo were well preserved, with the associated living surfaces of the Indian quarters still relatively undisturbed for much of its length. Portions of the north wall and its Indian quarters were equally well preserved. Occasional traces of the west and south walls were also found in a field which had been scraped smooth by a bulldozer some years ago. The granary foundations and those of several adjoining rooms, located in the process of positive identification of the granary, were in good condition in the ground, but most of their associated floor surfaces had been disturbed. In several areas beneath the stone foundations of the final form of Mission Concepcion, adobe walls of the first permanent mission buildings on the site were found. One of these structures appeared to be the first mission church of Concepcion. Test excavations within the outlines of the building revealed seven burials beneath its floors. As a result of the documents research, the original line of Mission Road was determined. This information is valuable in rerouting Mission Road around the remains of Mission Concepcion. An amendment to the above contract necessitated archaeological survey of a number of specific areas within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Four proposed development areas in the immediate vicinity of the missions were surveyed. Twenty-two remote-sensing anomalies were examined and, where possible, were identified and/or explained. In addition, three large park areas were surveyed. Seven recorded historic and prehistoric sites and buildings were reexamined and their importance assessed. Four new archaeological sites were recorded.

Archaeological Investigations in the Courtyard of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción Acuña (41BX12)

“…Other areas investigated included the east, west and south walls of the Indian Quarters. Evidence of trash middens and an irrigation ditch were encountered in these areas (see Ivey and Fox 1999). The remnants of what appeared to be the first church constructed at the mission along with burial pits were also located during these excavations (Ivey and Fox 1999).…”

“…Though Huizar never received the granary he was granted full title to the remainder of the property in 1815. The granary was granted to Manuel Yturri Y Castillo in 1823 (Ivey and Fox 1999) and then deeded to Asa Mitchell by 1838 (BCCC Vol. A2:77).…”

“…Figure 3-1 is a 1989Ivey and Fox 1999;Krueger and Meskill 1992; composite of previous excavations at the mission. We Labadie 1989;Meissner 2001;Miller and Meissner 2001; have reviewed nine reports summarizing the results of Scurlock and Fox 1977).…”

“…These difficulties let to only approximate locations for some of the units depicted on Figure 3-1. Specifically, units located near the southwest corner of the mission compound associated with the Scurlock and Fox (1977) and Ivey and Fox (1999) These units are discussed in field notes on file at the CAR and appear to represent investigations that were never written up as technical reports.…”

“…During the course of excavations, several Spanish-Colonial features were encountered, including middens and hearths. In 1980, Ivey andFox (1999) (Ivey and Fox 1999:15). Other areas investigated included the east, west and south walls of the Indian Quarters.…”