Ceramic Analysis of the José Francisco Ruiz Site, San Antonio, Texas

This thesis examines the ceramic assemblage collected by Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. during excavations at the Ruiz site (41BX795) in downtown San Antonio. Although not the first excavations conducted at this site, the artifact yield was much higher than the previous investigations. A historical review of the site reveals the many people who lived there and how the site changed over time. The artifacts reveal a long occupation period as San Antonio transitioned from a part of New Spain to the eventual state of Texas. The distribution of the artifacts informs questions about how ceramics were deposited at the site. Comparisons to the previous ceramic assemblage as well as others in San Antonio show how this site is similar to its neighbors. Through this mixture of historical and artifact analysis, I seek to answer three research questions about the site and those who lived there.