Alamo Archaeology Church Preservation - August 8

Archaeological investigations continued at the Alamo Church last week. Excavations continued in EUs 30, 33, 35 and 37.

Archaeologists completed excavations in EU-30 last week. The approximate maximum depth was 110 cm below surface. The final levels of the unit were within the dark clay loam present throughout the site and typically underlaid by the natural caliche. Artifact counts were low in the final levels of the unit. Archaeologists completed final documentation of the unit, including scans, photographs, and mapping by the end of the week.

Archaeologists in EU-33 completed excavation of the unit by the end of the week, reaching a terminal depth of 150 cm below surface. The final levels of the unit had only minimal artifacts. However, a flake too was recovered from approximately 100 cm below surface. The flake exhibits scars on the dorsal side and small fractures along the edge suggest it was utilized. While excavation was completed for the unit, archaeologists will need to complete the final documentation in the following week.

Archaeologists in EU-35 reached a depth of approximately 130 cm below surface. This unit has exposed mission period wall foundations as well as some unique artifact—a handmade, 2-holed button and Valero ceramic sherds were recovered from the unit. On the east side of the unit, the profile of a feature previously encountered in 2019 continues to be exposed. Archaeologists are on track to complete this unit in the next few days.

EU-37 reached an approximate depth of 120 cm below surface. Soil deposits mirror the adjacent units and contain few artifacts. The column feature in EU-37 has the same composition as the feature in EU-33, indicating the two features are contemporaneous. Another shared characteristic of EU-37 and EU-33 is the electrical conduit that extends across the units, near the surface and bored through the reconstructed garden wall. Archaeologists will continue excavation within this unit in the following days.