An examination and analysis of the metal artifacts from Presidio San Saba (41mn1), Menard County, Texas

The Spanish Colonial site of Presidio San Sabá, occupied from 1757 to the 1770’s, is the largest Spanish fort in Texas. Since 2000, Texas Tech University has conducted archaeological investigations at the site. As a result, large quantities of metal artifacts have been recovered. Given the peripheral location of the fort along the frontier of New Spain, it is expected that the archaeological record will reflect the isolated situation experienced by the garrison of San Sabá. This thesis is an attempt to describe and explain the collection of metal artifacts recovered from the site within its context as a remote, frontier outpost.