Campo Santo Viejo : archaeological investigations at the old Brownsville cemetery, Oscar S. Dancy Building parking lot, Brownsville, Texas /
In September of 2004, construction activities began in the parking lot of the historic 1912 Cameron County Courthouse, recently dubbed as the Oscar S. Dancy Building. However, during the course of this construction a significant number of human skeletal remains were disturbed and work was halted in...
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| Corporate Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Government Document Book |
| Language: | English |
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Los Fresnos, Tex. :
Southern Archaeological Consultants, Inc.,
[2005]
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| Summary: | In September of 2004, construction activities began in the parking lot of the historic 1912 Cameron County Courthouse, recently dubbed as the Oscar S. Dancy Building. However, during the course of this construction a significant number of human skeletal remains were disturbed and work was halted in the vicinity until proper preservation procedures could be properly determined. Archival research indicated that the human skeletal remains were related to the Campo Santo Viejo or old city cemetery which was platted as part of Brownsville's original city plan in 1848. As a result, it was deemed necessary to conduct an archaeological survey of this area which was funded by Cameron County and the Texas Historical Commission which has resulted in the archaeological research findings presented within this study. The limited excavation conducted at this site revealed a complex pattern of mortuary activity at the old cemetery and indicated that burials continued to occur until at least 1872, long after this cemetery was superceded by the Brownsville City Cemetery. This research has provided insights into both the 19th century mortuary customs and cultural mores of early Brownsville which might otherwise have been inaccessible. Due to the scope of activity and the existence of some undisturbed interments, the rationale for continued disturbance of the Campo Santo Viejo site was called into question and the Cameron County Commissioners Court decided to halt any further archaelogical investigations, rebury the disturbed remains, and return the location to its former state. |
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| Item Description: | "Texas Antiquities [Committe] Permit #3586" "Prepared for Cameron County Commissioners Court." Title from cover. |
| Physical Description: | iv, 40 leaves, 6 unnumbered leaves of plates, 4 leaves, 21 leaves : illustrations (some color), 7 maps ; 29 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Bibliography: leaves 34-40. |