Project Limitations

As for those limitations bearing on the findings reviewed herein, it should be noted that like much of that archaeology bearing on recent research in Hispanic colonial California and elsewhere, several conditions and circumstances bear on that research completed to date. The first of these circumstances concerns the fact that the mission and community of San Juan Bautista was preparing for its bicentennial celebrations which are centered on the June 24th, 1797 founding of the Old Mission of San Juan Bautista. While the preparations for said celebration made possible the research undertaking in question, the bicentennial celebration also created significant limitations and preconditions that have had a direct bearing on project objectives and the rate of progress maintained thus far. The second factor of direct concern to this research effort is that pertaining to the project-based instructional nature of the field and lab efforts completed to date. As with any field school, lab and field training is a necessary and significant precondition for successful project outcomes (Dallas 1989; Hastings, et al, 1977; Simpson-Smith and Edwards 1996). In this specific instance, the project was initiated under the tandem constraints of the impending bicentennial celebration and the limitations and constraints posed by the administrative responsiblities and duties of the founding faculty status of the project director, Dr. Ruben Mendoza, of the new California State University at Monterey Bay (cf. Mendoza 1996). Despite those challenges and limitations encountered during the first year of this project effort, the investigations documented herein have proceeded without significant interruption since the Fall of 1995.