Intensive Survey Associated with Improvements to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Marmon Mok Architecture contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio (CAR-UTSA) to perform an intensive archaeological survey of backhoe trenches (BHT) on the remaining undeveloped portions of Lot 12, Block 3, NCB 13814 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, to assess the impact of the proposed construction on an acequia lateral projected to run through the lot. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) is on the remaining lot east of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and north of the Convention Center Exhibit Hall “D” in a grassy area near the intersection of Market and Bowie Streets. The lot is scheduled for development as an outdoor event space with landscaping, masonry retaining walls, restrooms, and drinking fountains. The greatest impact to the project area will be the removal of 1 m (3 ft.) of soil to stabilize the ground surface for construction. Numerous utilities cross the project area, many witnessed in backhoe trench walls. Four backhoe trenches were excavated and two construction trenches were examined on June 1, 2011. No cultural materials or remnants of the acequia were observed in any of the trenches. The archaeological trenches were excavated to 1.5 m (5 ft.) below the surface. The two existing construction trenches that were excavated to 0.9 m (3 ft.) below the surface by SpawGlass Construction Company were also examined by CAR. Jennifer Thompson served as Project Archaeologist. Dr. Steve Tomka served as the Principal Investigator. The project was conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee (TAC) Permit No. 5952.