Bone fragments unearthed during Alamo excavation

Ernesto Rodriguez, associate curator at The Alamo, looks into an archaeological dig area containing what appears to be the curved foundation of a watchtower at the northeast corner of the sacristy on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. The find gives the first physical evidence of a guard tower shown on two historic maps drawn by Edward Everett, one dating to 1846 and the second to 1848. less Ernesto Rodriguez, associate curator at The Alamo, looks into an archaeological dig area containing what appears to be the curved foundation of a watchtower at the northeast corner of the sacristy on Thursday, ... more Photo: Billy Calzada /Staff Photographer Photo: Billy Calzada /Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Bone fragments unearthed during Alamo excavation 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

Human bone fragments were unearthed during an archaeological excavation on the grounds of the Alamo.

The scattered fragments were found in a site exploring part of the Alamo Church and Long Barrack, according to the Alamo Mission Archaeology Advisory Committee.

As part of the committee’s protocols, an on-site tribal monitor was present during excavations and oversaw the respectful covering of the remains, officials said.

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The area had been previously disturbed as a result of sewer utility installation and former construction, according to a statement from the committee.

Officials said the investigation will continue in order to obtain a better idea of what was occurring in the area and see if those are the only remains at the site.

“The ultimate goal of the process is to protect the invaluable history and heritage of any and all people interred in the Church,” officials said in the statement.

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Other governing offices notified include the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, Texas Historical Commission Archaeology Division, and the Texas General Land Office.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA