The archaeology and history of Alamo Plaza

Abstract

In the Spring of 1975, the Center for Archaeological Research was approached by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Antonio regarding possible archaeological and historical research at Alamo Plaza. The proposed investigations were in connection with the city's plan to renovate the plaza, to coincide with the American Bicentennial. There were two major reasons for the Center's involve-ment: (1) the architects desired to learn, as a part of the renovation plans, the precise locations of the south wall of the original Alamo (San Antonio de Valero) compound; (2) in order to aid in the planning of the renovation, it was necessary to determine if subsurface archaeo-logical resources existed in Alamo Plaza. To achieve these goals, a contract was agreed upon between the City of San Antonio and the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio. A State Antiquities Permit (No. 94) was secured and all investigations were conducted under the terms of that permit.