Perez Rancho Excavations-Jonathan Welch Interview

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• published: 29 Jun 2015
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An exciting archaeological excavation took place this year at 41BX274, the Lt. Colonel Ygnacio Perez Rancho archaeological site, a Spanish Colonial ranch complex in the San Antonio city limits. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and is a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) worked with Dr. Tamra Walter, Professor of Anthropology at Texas Tech University, to bring the field school to San Antonio. Eight Texas Tech students participated in the field work. Jonathan Welch, a graduate student at Texas Tech plans to analyze the collected data and discuss the findings for his master’s thesis. The students applied archaeological field methods to accurately document, and later interpret, discoveries in the field. The archaeological site, first surveyed in the 1970’s by professional archaeologists, is recorded as a multicomponent site, representing a prehistoric and historic occupation of the area. This investigation focused on the historic component of the site, specifically a small excavation within a standing wooden structure, possibly a Spanish Colonial jacal, and another location within the stone remains of the original ranch homestead. It is posited that these two historic features represent a contemporaneous use of the property, and follow the general layout of a Spanish Colonial ranch complex. This investigation endeavors to elucidate questions regarding the construction techniques and habitation of the possible jacal structure. Furthermore, excavations by the original stone house targeted a large anomaly previously detected in a ground penetrating radar survey. In addition to illuminating the rich and diverse cultural heritage of San Antonio, this archaeological investigation provides valuable, hands-on experience to aspiring archaeologists, and answers serious archaeological inquiries regarding Spanish Colonial lifeways in the region.