Nuevo Santander The Unrealized Archaeological Potential of a “Civilian” Province in Northern New Spain

Authors

Russell K. Skowronek, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Christopher L. Miller, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Roseann Bacha-Garza, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-17-2018

Abstract

In 1746 the Viceroy of New Spain called for the founding of a new province to be located between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River. Between 1748-1755 two dozen civilian communities of farmers and ranchers were established by the province’s founder José de Escandón. Many towns were founded along the banks of the Rio Grande where there was access to water and lands for agriculture and grazing. Each town served as the administrative, economic, and ecclesiastical hub for surrounding land grants and ranches. Were it not for the work of W. Eugene George, Mindy Bonine, and Mary Jo Galindo, our knowledge of the architectural and archaeological history of this region would be woefully incomplete. In this presentation the CHAPS Program team draws on the work of these pioneers and continuing original research concerning the surviving archaeological and architectural record of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Comments

© 2018 Journal of Texas Archeology and History.org

Recommended Citation

Skowronek, Russell K., et al. “Nuevo Santander- The Unrealized Archaeological Potential of a ‘Civilian’ Province in Northern New Spain.” “Spanish Borderlands: Colonial Roots of the Lower Rio Grande Valley,” 2018, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cqN9zLKkz8XotyPxwVRCgCxRmoMlrB81/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook.