The San Diego Presidio Archaeology Project began a new 8-week session last
Monday (1/9/95). Two new NCCC teams have been rotated into the program,
replacing the previous two teams, totalling 25 new people in training. Because
of the recent storms moving through Southern California, excavation on the
site has been curtailed. Instead, efforts have been focused on both lab work
and preparing the site by removing backfill and plants from the areas where we
intend to excavate. The plants located over the rooms have been growing since
the establishment of the park. Unfortunately, the types of vegetation which
were placed there - aloe, palms, and cactus - have deep-reaching root systems
that have most likely grown into the adobe walls of the uncovered rooms. Their
removal is part of the effort to stop destruction of the site.
    Backfill has been moved and deposited against Presidio Park's modern
surrounding wall to create an elevated walkway along the North edge of the
site. This will provide a better view of the project for our visitors,
particularly the many fourth grade classes who tour the site daily. The
walkway will also make the site wheelchair accessible.
    The rain that has been hitting San Diego has certainly taken its toll on
the previous excavations. Every break in the storms allows us the opportunity
to drain all the rooms (some of which have had up to seven inches of water)
with a hand pump. There is concern about possible erosion of not only the
walls, but of the wall foundations as well. Most of the erosion of the walls
themselves has actually been from the adobe fill that concealed doorways or
silt in the units that abut a wall. Are there any suggestions, however, as to
how we may better defend the wall foundations from erosion, as they are
considerably exposed to and may be weakened by the rains?
 
Anita Cohen-Williams; Reference Services; Hayden Library
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ  85287-1006
PHONE: (602) 965-4579              FAX: (602) 965-9169
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