Evaluation of archaeological material from the Little Church of La Villita property, San Antonio, Texas

On June 25th, 1993, Dale Bransford of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department brought several bone fragments to the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). These bones had been discovered by workmen installing a French drain along the east side of the Little Church of La Villita in downtown San Antonio. Inspection identified the bones as human, so CAR staff members visited the site to investigate and collect other remains. No excavation was attempted. Subsequent skeletal analysis revealed the presence of at least two individuals in the collection. Because of the absence of diagnostic artifacts, a sample of bone was sent for accelerator dating. The resulting date of 380 ± 60 B.P. (Beta-67731 AMS-9901) suggests that these remains are those of at least two late prehistoric or proto historic occupants of south central Texas. The 𝛿13C value of the bone indicates a dietary regime which emphasized C4-based food sources, in this case probably bison.