Archaeological Survey and Monitoring for the Construction of Additional Parking for Mission Concepción, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

The University of Texas at San Antonio-Center for Archaeological Research (UTSA-CAR) was contracted by Pugh Constructors, Inc. to survey and monitor 0.63 acres (0.25 hectares) dedicated to the construction of additional parking lots for Mission Concepciόn (41BX12). The work was conducted intermittingly from May 9 through December 22, 2016. Mission Concepciόn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL), and a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, as well located with located within a National Register District. It is a component of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and is co-administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The mission’s listing on the NRHP and its status as a SAL require professional archaeological investigation prior to any ground disturbing construction. The archaeological investigation included background research prior to and during construction, shovel testing of impact areas designated for future parking, and monitoring of these areas during grading and other ground disturbing activities. The background research, shovel testing, and monitoring suggest that the parking lot areas have been heavily impacted by past construction. These earlier activities include the razing and selling of the original mission walls in the early 1800s, the construction of the old Mission Road through the compound area, the construction of play areas for St. Peter-St. Joseph’s Orphanage, and the construction of a 30-in. water line in the early 1970s. The project was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7634, with Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux serving as Principal Investigator and Leonard Kemp serving as Project Archaeologist.