Archeological testing associated with the stabilization of the Convento at Mission San Juan Capistrano (41BX5), San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In January and April, 2005, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted test excavations at Mission San Juan Capistrano (41BX5) for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park of the National Park Service. The site is located approximately eight miles south of downtown San Antonio on the left bank of the San Antonio River. The purpose of the excavations was to provide information on the nature and content of the subsurface deposits in preparation for a major stabilization campaign around the convento at Mission San Juan that will result in the installation of an impermeable barrier around the structure. Concrete footers will also be installed under each buttress, if necessary. Six 1-x-1-meter units were excavated around the convento and Rooms 19 and 21. Excavations conducted by CAR revealed disturbed deposits on the west side of the convento. A cut-stone step feature was encountered on the southeast side of the convento, along with a footer that was exposed near the northeast corner of the building. Excavations also revealed the original sandstone foundation of San Juan Capistrano on the south side of Room 21. These investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee permit no. 3655 with Dr. Steve A. Tomka, CAR Director, serving as Principal Investigator. All cultural materials recovered and project-related documents are permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Research.