Archaeological Investigations at Mission Concepcion, Fall of 1986

Abstract

In October 1986, the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, conducted limited test excavations at Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepci6n (41 BX 12) for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The purpose of the excavations was to determine whether buried wall footings and occupation surfaces were preserved in an area where a drain pipe was proposed to be installed to carry rainwater away from the convento. Eleven test units were excavated at points where the foundations of the first two-story convento were expected to cross the area. Remnants of the footings of the north and south walls of the con vento were isolated, recorded, and reburied. No traces of occupation surfaces were found. Three electrical conduit lines were found to cross the area in question, two of which were unknowingly dug into the top of the north convento wall. Based on the fmdings of the testing, it is recommended that the trench for the drain be excavated by hand through the con vento area.