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Here's What Archaeologists Have Dug Up At The Alamo So Far This Summer

Archaeologists are digging through the summer heat to complete a major project at the Alamo for preservation efforts — and the occasional discovery of artifacts. 

  

The Alamo Archaeologist and a team of other archaeologists from the San Antonio-based engineering firm Raba-Kistner began the project in July and plan to continue through at least September, according to Kevin Finnell, content and media specialist for the Alamo Trust.

They are digging now and will eventually reach 18 spots between the walls and floor of the Long Barrack and the Church soon.

The old stone floor had to be removed first in some areas, so they can dig into the original dirt floors. Among the interesting finds so far include: musket balls, an old key, buttons, a hand-blown glass bottle and a cow’s tooth.

Raba-Kistner employee Kat Jenkins said they've found other artifacts, too.

“Construction materials, like brick and mortar. Some metal fragments and some ceramics,” she said.

Alamo Archaeologist Kristi Nichols points out different layers that tell this history of the occupation of the Long Barrack.
Credit Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio
Alamo Archaeologist Kristi Nichols points out different layers that tell this history of the occupation of the Long Barrack.

Alamo Archaeologist Kristi Nichols said the Long Barrack is part of the old mission and has been around since 1724, and served more than one purpose during its history.

“What we’re really seeing is this historic period where the mission is being constructed,” she said. “It’s being used as a fort after the Mission Period, it’s being used a quartermaster depot, a Civil War location, and even after the military occupation it turns into a mercantile store.”

Nichols said its occupants through time probably did their best sweeping up the dirt floors, but as most do with their own housekeeping, missed a few spots.

“We try to pick things up and sweep and do all that stuff, which they did too,” she said. “But if you imagine sweeping around little bits, it eventually gets impacted, or you know, compacted into the floor and so those things are hidden in there and that might be the reason we are getting things, like little buttons and that as well because it’s things that fell, small things that fell.”

Nichols said the digging along the walls will help them learn more about the construction techniques used at the time. They will replicate those same techniques for preservation efforts at the Alamo.

Alamo officials hope they can one day display the items found during the dig.

Palates ready to be used in the Long Barrack to help catalogue debris from the dig so it can be returned to its original location.
Credit Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio
Palates ready to be used in the Long Barrack to help catalogue debris from the dig so it can be returned to its original location.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story listed the incorrect year for the  Long Barrack. It has existed since 1724.

Brian Kirkpatrick can be reached at Brian@TPR.org and on Twitter at @TPRBrian.

Copyright 2020 Texas Public Radio. To see more, visit Texas Public Radio.

A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.

A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.

A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.

Raba Kistner employee Kat Jenkins sorts artifacts similar in nature into small piles to be formally identified.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
Raba Kistner employee Kat Jenkins sorts artifacts similar in nature into small piles to be formally identified.

Raba Kistner employee Alesia Hoyle brushing dirt from an artifact found near Long Barrack dig on the Alamo grounds.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
Raba Kistner employee Alesia Hoyle brushing dirt from an artifact found near Long Barrack dig on the Alamo grounds.

A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.
Brian Kirkpatrick | Texas Public Radio /
A musketball, key, bottle, and more were found during the dig that started in July and will continue through at least September at 18 different areas on the grounds of the Alamo.

Brian Kirkpatrick has been a journalist in Texas most of his life, covering San Antonio news since 1993, including the deadly October 1998 flooding, the arrival of the Toyota plant in 2003, and the base closure and realignments in 2005.