Monitoring for the Upper Labor Acequia at the Intersection of East Elmira Street and North St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In March of 2017, The University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) conducted archaeological monitoring under contract with Adams Environmental, Inc. (AEI) for the City of San Antonio (COSA). This monitoring was related to the excavation and construction of a sewer manhole and sewer lines for the McCullough Avenue Drainage project. Because the project was conducted by the COSA, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, it warranted archaeological investigation under the Texas Antiquities Code and the City’s Unified Development Code. Archaeological monitoring was conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit No. 7710 with Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux serving as the Principal Investigator and Leonard Kemp serving as the Project Archaeologist. Based on historical maps and previous archaeology, it was believed that the Upper Labor Acequia (41BX2043) crossed at the intersection of East Elmira and North St. Mary’s streets. This was designated as the Area of Potential Effect (APE). CAR archaeologists monitored excavations for the sewer manhole and line. The acequia or remnants of the acequia were not found, nor was any other cultural material observed during the monitoring. Based on these findings, CAR suggests that the acequia is no longer present within the APE. However, the Upper Labor Acequia or portions of it may still exist outside the APE; therefore, CAR recommends any future excavation that may impact other areas associated with the Upper Labor Acequia should be monitored.