Battlefield archaeology update Main Plaza finds discussed at meeting of archaeologists

Archaeologists who investigated an old trench uncovered during San Antonio's Main Plaza renovations found bits of ammunition, sword tips and other artifacts that tell the story of Mexican soldiers who dug in there to protect themselves from Texian rebels during an 1835 siege that preceded the battle of the Alamo.

A short distance away, beside the Bexar County Courthouse, the archaeologists from PBS&J of Austin found discarded animal bones, broken pottery, cooking utensils and other items in what was a trash pit used by both Native Americans and Spanish colonial settlers between the mid-1700s and early 20th century.

The archaeological dig in the heart of downtown was among the topics Saturday at the annual meeting of the Texas Archeological Society at the Menger Hotel.