All Them Ditches: The Spanish Colonial Water Management System of San Antonio de Bexar

Summary

Remnants of one of the largest and most extensive Spanish Colonial acequia water systems in the United States can be found in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Acequias contributed to the flourishing of the missions and colonial farming settlements in San Antonio de Bexar. This extensive system of ditches redirected water in various parts of present day Bexar County for agricultural and household purposes. At least six principal acequias and numerous secondary branches have been identified with the aid of archival and archaeological research. Recent investigations by the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio has documented secondary branches of the Espada acequia in south Bexar County. Using archival and archaeological data, this presentation will focus particularly on the Espada acequia system and the management of water supplied to farmlands (labores) and households.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Archaeology of Spanish and Mexican Ranchos: Daily life, labor, and heritage management   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 390