Research Questions

Is any portion of the San Agustin Mission Complex intact?

The eastern edge of the mission was used as a landfill by the city in the 1950s. A large clay mining pit, where dirt was collected to make bricks, was filled by the city with residential trash and construction debris. In 1982, the banks of the Santa Cruz River were stabilized and extra dirt was dumped onto the mission site, covering it to the depth of three or four feet, and perhaps helping to preserve the archaeological resources in this area.

Excavations in this area will seek to uncover the remnants of the Mission Complex, if they are there to be found. Additional excavations will try to locate other features associated with the Mission, such as theacequias (canal) network and the foundations of the Carrillo house.