Alamo Archaeology Church Preservation - July 4

July 4, 2025

Excavations within EUs 2, 8, and 9 continued at the Alamo Church last week. Archaeologists were able to complete work in EUs 8 and 9 by the end of the week.

Archaeologists encountered additional adobe pavers within the northern portion of EU-2. The in situ adobe pavers were accompanied by adjacent soil staining. The soil staining suggests some of the pavers were removed in the past. The pavers stop before reaching the northern unit boundary. Archaeologists reached a depth of 40 cm below surface before stopping for the week. Artifacts from this unit included Spanish Colonial ceramics, glass shards, lithics, and metal fragments.

Adobe pavers exposed below surface of excavation unit — EU-2 during excavation, photo facing north.

Adobe pavers, facing South, on bottom exposed surface of excavation unit — EU-2 adobe pavers, photo facing south.

Spanish Colonial ceramics, glass shards, lithics, and metal fragment artifacts from excavation unit — Artifacts from EU-2.

Excavations in EU- 8 were completed last week. Archaeologists excavated to the natural caliche layer, a terminal depth of 130 cm below surface. Overall this unit had evidence of previous construction, but it also included undisturbed strata closer to the bottom of the unit. Final unit documentation was completed shortly after excavations. Artifacts from this unit included ceramics, the base of a dark olive glass container, and a biface.