An archeology professor at California State University, Monterey
Bay, Ruben Mendoza, confirmed this week that the northeast corner
of the six-acre field is historically sensitive and the entire
property could have historic artifacts.
Hollister – A project to turn vacant land in San Juan Bautista into ball fields was delayed slightly after a discovery that part of the property is historically sensitive.
An archeology professor at California State University, Monterey Bay, Ruben Mendoza, confirmed this week that the northeast corner of the six-acre field is historically sensitive and the entire property could have historic artifacts. Mendoza has been studying the San Juan region for more than 12 years.
“We want to minimize damages to the historical documents that exist,” Mendoza said. “If they’ve survived 200 years, are we going to destroy that in a fortnight? Because unfortunately, a lot of that has been done in San Juan.”
The field is next to San Juan School on The Alameda and owned by the Aromas/San Juan School District. Mendoza said while most of San Juan Bautista is historic property and needs archeological approval for any kind of digging, this area is of specific concern.
The property sits southeast of one of the original neophyte housing areas. It’s around where the original El Camino Real had led into the city, he said.
District officials have decided to move forward with the project – which includes two soccer fields, two baseball fields and a parking lot with 100 spaces – but with Mendoza’s help.
Maintenance Manager Joseph Reyes said the district agreed to have an archeologist there whenever digging is done – which they must do in order to install an irrigation system.
“We’ll have a certified archeologist just so they can guide us,” Reyes said. “We’re doing anything we can to preserve what’s underneath.”
The field was torn out during the last week of August. District administrators were hoping to have the project done by spring of 2008. But after the grass had been torn out, the district got a call from a resident concerned that the property was historically sensitive.
District officials immediately looked into the claim – contacting the planning department, various historical societies and archeologists.
Mendoza said it was unfortunate that he had been contacted after the bulldozers had come in, because damage could have already been done to historic structures.
“I’m very much in support of the idea of them putting in a soccer field or a baseball diamond, but they went around it the wrong way,” Mendoza said.
Reyes said the district was relieved to find the project did not have to be halted altogether.
The project is funded in part by San Benito County, which paid $67,769 for the project, and partially through corporate sponsors.
There will be some delays in the installation of the field because with any trenching, the district will have to wait until an archeologist is available to oversee the project.
“We’re moving forward, but we’re moving forward with (Mendoza’s) help and assistance,” Reyes said. “So every step of the way, we’ll just listen to what he says.”
