Society Activities

Texas Archeology Academy

Texas Archeology Academies 2011

Archeology 101
Gerri and Howard Crockett

Excavation supplies cozy up to the Las Cabras monument (The Site of the Mission of Las Cabreras) erected in 1936.  Archeology 101 Academy crew is in upper left background, off to an early start (just after 7:30 AM). - Carolyn Gritzmaker

On March 11-13th, the TAS Academy Committee presented Archeology 101.  It was an incredible success.  Dr. Harry Shafer instructed the classroom portion of the Academy, and Marybeth Tomka led excavations and served as Principal Investigator.  Gerri and Howard Crockett facilitated the academy.  We all were incredibly fortunate to have the academy at the San Jose Mission in San Antonio on Friday and Saturday.  Susan Snow, TAS member and NPS Archeologist, ensured that we were able to use the training room at the Harris House (Listed in the National Register of Historic Places since April 03, 2001), and she organized a tour of the preservation work being initiated at the Church at Mission San Jose.  Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was established in 1720 and founded by Father Fran Felan.  It was designated the San Jose Mission National Historic Site in 1941.  The historic site was administratively listed on the National Register on October 15, 1966.

The preservation tour at the conclusion of the Saturday program included a walk through the Mission, as well as an explanation of the history and progress of the current preservation work at the Church.  The tour was a special treat since the preservation conservator, Ivan Myjer, provided an overview of the history of previous preservation work and current preservation issues, concerns, and methods.  We also visited with the on-site stone carver and sculptor, Miroslav Mahler, who is in the process of duplicating some of the original work on the Church.  Mr. Mahler is from the Czech Republic and was brought to the Mission for this project due to his unique skills.  It is an on-going and tremendous effort by these skilled artisans/conservators and the NPS.

On Sunday, everyone traveled to Rancho de las Cabras, near Floresville, to apply newly-learned archeological theory and methods to a considerable archeological site.  The ranch was built in the 1740s to provide cattle, sheep and horses for Mission San Francisco de la Espada.  Marybeth Tomka organized the students into various groups to dig, trowel and screen.  Overall, everyone worked hard and uncovered a lot of ground.  In fact, many didn’t want to leave since they enjoyed the experience so much.

Principal Investigator (PI) Marybeth Tomka begins the orientation before the ground work (as it were) starts. - Carolyn Gritzmaker

PI Marybeth provides additional information about the features at the site. - Carolyn Gritzmaker

A bit more information and some instructions from PI Marybeth, and the Archeology 101 Academy crew is about ready to get down and dirty. - Carolyn Gritzmaker

With the site monument in the foreground, the ground work gets underway. - Carolyn Gritzmaker

The crews begin to expand the excavation units.  PI Marybeth (light t-shirt and straw hat) observes their efforts. - Carolyn Gritzmaker

After the unit is laid out, the next order of business is to clear the vegetation and take elevations before starting to excavate. - Carolyn Gritzmaker