This text was prepared March 11, 1996, but still represents our plans. The San Pasqual Battlefield Site Location Project would be divided into a four-stage project:
Stage 1 . . . . SITE 1-C
Stage 2 . . . .SITES 1-B\2-A\2-B\2-C\2-D
Stage 3 . .SITE 5
Stage 4 . . .SITE-7
The San Pasqual Battlefield Site Location Project, hereby later referred to as the Site Location Project (SLP), would commence as soon as possible with a targeted completion date of December 1st, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the battle on December 6, 1996. This site would be a one day project consisting of two primary endeavors.
Stage-1 would be to conduct a visual survey for signs of evidence indicating whether or not a large Indian village (belonging to the San Pasqual Indians) might have existed at the site in 1846. This village site has never been formally identified. The second task would be to simultaneously conduct a sweep of the area with metal detectors in an attempt to establish whether or not any American military artifact debris is in the area. Most artifacts if any, would be expected to be found at 3"- 4" below the surface of the ground. Items considered to be artifacts or unidentifiable, would be retrieved for further analysis. Metal debris consisting of junk would be left at the site.
Stage-2 would be divided into two parts, both of which would consist of sweeping (metal detectors) all included sites. Site 2-D would be one separate operation with the remaining sites to be another. Site 2-D would be a two day project consisting of sweeping the area. Artifacts if any, along with any unidentifiable metal debris would be retrieved for further analysis. Any items found to be junk would be left at the site. This site would have to be cleared of nearly all the cactus that presently grows there in order for any sweep to be conducted. At present, the cactus makes the area impenetrable. Although a controlled burn was originally considered as a way to remove the cactus, discussion on this subject has indicated that fire may not clear away the cactus as intended. It has been suggested that perhaps a better way to remove the cactus would be to have it done by hand, perhaps by correctional custody personnel. The SLP could not petition such work to be done on the site without the approval of the City of San Diego.
During the same two day period that site 2-D is to be swept by metal detecting operators, sites 2-C\2-B\2-A\1-B would also be swept. All artifacts if any, would be expected to be 3"- 4" below the surface of the ground. This stage would involve Mule Hill which has not only been located and established, but has been registered with the State of California. However, due to severe pilfering by treasure hunters and the proposed new San Dieguito River Park Coast-To-Crest Trail set to go right by the base of the hill, this project would attempt a final sweep and the first ever, official archaeological dig ever conducted of the site. This stage would take three to seven days and the SLP would attempt to petition the assistance of several archaeologists, perhaps from the State, City of San Diego, and County, in addition to possibly a local college archaeology class. The primary purpose of this stage is to retrieve whatever artifact debris is left at the site before it becomes open to public access on December 7, 1996, and to establish new historical information concerning the military's actions on the site in 1846. Artifacts and unidentifiable items would be retrieved and subject to analysis by the site archaeologists. All junk would be left at the site.
The City of San Diego is requesting that an Environmental Review be conducted at all appropriate sites proposed by this project and within it's jurisdiction. This project recognizes that the review may include but not be limited to the following areas of consideration:
Due to the nature of this project and its course of duties, it is felt that none of the above areas would be affected by the SLP. However, the removal of cactus at site 2-D might be an area of consideration by any such review. Further, all sites considered to be within the San Dieguito River Project might very well be considered for any review as well. The SLP wishes to move forward as quickly as possible in order to complete all four stages of this project by December 1st, 1996. It is hoped that this project might yield new artifacts and information relevant to this historic battle, in time for celebration of the 150th anniversary of the battle, scheduled for the weekend of December 6, 1996. As soon as all governmental agencies involved issue an approval for this project to move forward, the SLP will be in a position to begin issuing dates for all four stages.
Prepared & Submitted By George H. Hruby, Project Leader
Reviewed By Ron Hinrichs, Project Historian
Reviewed By Frank Lorey, Project Archaeologist