A Study of Indigenous Daily Life Integrating Geophysical and Archaeological Methods at the San Antonio Missions

Summary

The San Antonio Missions were established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century by the Spanish in order to convert the native populations to Christianity and to buffer the French settlements to the east. These colonial institutes brought Spanish Catholic priests and indigenous groups together under one roof, merging cultural practices and beliefs. The missions are now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a vital part of San Antonio’s history and tourism industry. This paper presents a multimethod approach to an archaeological investigation at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Geophysical methods and traditional archaeological excavation methods were combined to investigate daily indigenous life at Mission Concepćion. Magnetometry surveys, ground-penetrating radar surveys, and small scale excavations revealed portions of the west wall of the mission compound, as well as remnants of indigenous life. Using these findings, the author discusses indigenous daily practices and preservation concerns. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2017   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 121