Historical and archaeological research of the Hampton Inn property in downtown San Antonio

The Center for Archaeological Research of the University of Tecas at San Antonio conducted a three-phase investigation of property belonging to Hampton Inns, Inc., in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The first phase, a study of archival records and previous investigations, undertaken in 1990, showed that portions of the Alamo Acequia Madre ran through the property. During Phase II, in 1990, CAR placed five backhoe trenches to assess the remains of the acequia. These investigations showed the acequia to have been disturbed by earlier installation of a storm drain. CAR archaeologists monitored construction activities during Phase III in early 1995. Although small portions of two strustures were revealed, no associated artifacts were found. Sixteen artifacts dating from the late-nineteenth- to early twentieth-centuries were recovered near the acequia. These probably represent a trash deposit of some kind. A portion of the acequia has been reconstructed in the courtyard, and the recovered artifacts are on display in the hotel.