Crossroad of Empire: The Church and State on the Rio Grande Frontier of Coahuila and Texas, 1700-1821

The monograph being published here is the first in a series of data-oriented reports derived from the archaeological and ethnohistorical project centered on the modern town of Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico. To our gratification, the project produced a great deal of information. We have decided to meet the problem of adequate publication of the results in two ways. The first is by a volume of essays which aim at synthesizing the various aspects of the data and drawing conclusions from it. This single volume will be published elsewhere and is now (1979) in preparation. The other means of publication is by a series of technical reports which will present the detailed data and information upon which we have based the essays and conclusions. It is not that the report series will lack conclusions, but its primary aim is to present information. This study by Dr. Almaraz begins the report series. [...] In the 17th century, owing to native resistance and aggression and the relative weakness of isolated communities, Spanish expansion of the northeastern frontier in the direction of the Rio Grande progressed slowly. By mid-century, however, mainly due to mineral discoveries, the number of explorations and settlements increased sufficiently to warrant the creation of the Province of Coahuila. In 1687 the first governor, Alonso de Leon the younger, designated a presidio in the town of Monclava as the provincial capital.