Archaeological Investigations at the Christopher Columbus Italian Society Property and Columbus Park: 41BX1968, the Possible First Site of Mission San Antonio de Valero

Archaeological investigations at the Christopher Columbus Italian Society property and Columbus Park, near San Francesco di Paola Church, revealed limited evidence of Spanish Colonial Period artifacts, including majolica ceramics and lead-glazed Galera wares. While no definitive proof was found linking the site to Mission San Antonio de Valero, established in 1718, the study identified a mix of Spanish Colonial materials such as tin- and lead-glazed ceramics, bone-tempered sherds, trade beads, and wrought iron nails. The research involved 31 shovel tests in Columbus Park and three test units on adjacent property, conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6534. Findings suggest that the majority of cultural materials date to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, likely due to re-deposition from upper landforms or grading activities prior to construction. The study was led by Kristi Miller Nichols as Project Archaeologist and Steve Tomka as Original Principal Investigator.

Nichols, K. (2015). Archaeological Investigations at the Christopher Columbus Italian Society Property and Columbus Park: 41BX1968, the Possible First Site of Mission San Antonio de Valero. Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State, 2015(1). https://doi.org/10.21112/ita.2015.1.2