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Post by neferetus on Jul 28, 2016 14:50:21 GMT -5
While excavating on Houston Street between the Woolworth Building and the Hotel Indigo (near the Alamo's NW corner), archeologists discovered adobe foundations of what might prove to be a portion of the exterior west wall, or perhaps one of the rooms, or arcade attached to that exterior wall. They just don't know yet. Nesta Anderson, head of the archaeological dig, said,“We’re not convinced that it is the west wall. All we know is that it is an adobe brick wall. It could be related to another feature of the west wall. We do know there were rooms that people were living in. It may be related to those rooms rather than the compound wall.”
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Post by neferetus on Jul 28, 2016 14:54:14 GMT -5
Alamo Dig Yields Colonial Wall Remnants by Kirby Wilson July 25, 2016 4Comments Texas archaeologists may have found more pieces of the Alamo. Spanish colonial adobe bricks discovered at a dig site in downtown San Antonio's Alamo Plaza may have made up part of the mission's original western wall, researchers announced Monday, although more analysis is needed to verify the architectural function of the centuries-old bricks. The dig, the first of its kind at the Alamo, is the first phase in a larger effort by state and local officials to renovate the historical landmark. Before construction plans can be drawn up, members of Reimagine the Alamo, the city of San Antonio and the Alamo Endowment are trying to learn as much as they can about the original 18th-century mission's architecture and location. Discovery of the bricks on Friday marked a major step toward uncovering the construction history of the world-famous Texas landmark. "Because we’ve got something from the Spanish colonial period, we know we are digging in the right place," archaeologist Nesta Anderson said in a press conference Monday. "Now we know we can get information from the ground over here that will support the master plan and the reinterpretation.” The bricks were discovered near the current mission's western wall, just 23 inches beneath the surface, Anderson said. They clearly form a larger wall structure, but years of wear and tear have left the fragile mud structures in very poor condition. In a news release, the officials in charge of the Alamo's refurbishing said they hoped to unearth the original western and southern walls. Friday, archaeologists may have done just that. But Anderson noted the bricks could simply be a part of a structure that was erected near the original mission. “All we know right now is that we’ve got wall,” she said. Land Commissioner George P. Bush, whose office oversees the Texas shrine, expressed excitement over the discovery. "This archeological exploration of the area surrounding the Alamo will be a tremendous benefit as we develop a master plan for reimagining the Alamo," Bush wrote in a release. "I am proud of the team of leading experts we have assembled to guide us through this historical process." Archaeologists will continue their dig for the next several weeks, updating the public on their findings with daily announcements. www.texastribune.org/2016/07/25/alamo-archaeological-dig-yields-colonial-wall-remn/
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Post by neferetus on Jul 28, 2016 14:56:54 GMT -5
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:54:13 GMT -5
At the archeological dig sites on Alamo Plaza, August 10, 2016.  At the main gate dig site, looking South. (Brad Ponder was at the opposite fence.) Note the sluice box used to sift gravel. Same as the gold miners used to use to sift for gold. |
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:55:05 GMT -5
 Looking south through the main gate dig at Brad Ponder. |
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:55:53 GMT -5
 The SW corner dig looking north. Looks like they have pretty much wrapped up here? |
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:56:27 GMT -5
 Looking full north through the main gate dig. You will note how the end of the Low Barrack planter does not quite reach the actual interior wall foundation of the main gate. |
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:57:12 GMT -5
 The two crouching workers are in the trench where the wall was discovered. Low Barrack planter is to their right. |
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Post by neferetus on Aug 18, 2016 11:58:22 GMT -5
 At the dig site with "Jay Back". Here's a "selfie" she took of us on her phone. |
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