Hall, Grant D. 2008-02-21
Grant Hall talks about the prehistory, history, and discovery of the San Saba site located in present day Menard, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Grant D. Hall
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: February 21, 2008
Location: Junction, Texas
Interviewer: David Marshall
Length: 02:04:14
Abstract
Introduction; San Saba location; Prehistory of San Saba site; Native American inhabitants; Spanish interests with the San Saba area; Motivations for Spanish colonist to move north; Founding the Mission and Presidio; Miles of separation; Strategic error when building the Presidio; Attack on San Saba; Mission burned; Largest Spanish fort built; Stone quarry; Presidio rock used for modern construction; Reconstruction of the front entry way; Redesigning the fort in San Saba; Opinions on the reconstruction of the site; Reconstruction failing to preserve site; Searching for the original mission site; Analyzing documents and conducting field studies; Texas A&M University survey team; San Saba County; Texas Tech University Archaeological field school; Presidio heroes and Presidio occupation; Aerial photographs of the site; Discovery of the San Saba Mission; Artifacts found at the Mission; Finding funding to excavate the San Saba site; Mission on County Judge Otis Lyckman’s property; Judge Lyckman’s reaction; Artifacts recovered indicating attack on the Mission; Media coverage of the San Saba site; Lead comparisons; Artifacts recovered at the San Saba site; Inventory of Spanish artifacts; Missing artifacts over time; Discovering the dimensions of the mission; Historical marker of the site; Killing of all the livestock; Gold sun dial recovered; Cleaning of the sun dial; Reading the inscriptions; European instrument maker; Speculations on the sun dial; Comparisons on artifacts found at the Presidio and Mission; Texas Tech University field school; Fragment of a statue; Locating a broken statue; Donny Hamilton; Working with “La Belle”—La Salle’s ship; Locating the San Saba site; Spanish planting vegetation; Pecan tree growth; Homesteads; Finding post stains; Discovering layout of a homestead; Plow zone; Finding graves; Stock pen crossing; Thoughts on the San Saba site; Native American problems; Charming career; Growing up in Edinburg, Texas; Early interest in Archaeology; Attending the University of Texas; Changing major; Working at Allen’s Creek; Moving to San Antonio, Texas; Analyzing artifacts from Allen’s Creek; Major research interests; Native Pecan trees; Deciding on an Archaeological field school; Prehistoric Catfish farms; Working on Choke Canyon project; Father’s support for archaeology career; Grandfather’s career; Father’s career; Archaeology training; Archaeology as a multidisciplinary study; Strong interests in history; Preferring to teach; Rewards of teaching; Getting students interested in Archaeology.
Access Information
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Transcript: Transcript available in reading room
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