The Rediscovery of Mission San Rafael Arcangel: An Archaeological Snapshot of the 20th California Mission by Cassidy R. DeBaker A thesis submitted to Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER'S OF ARTS in Cultural Resources Management Adrian Praetzellis, Ph.D. laura Watt, Ph.D. Nick Tipon, B.A. 5 t1l~1ol1c Date Copyright 2012 Cassidy R. DeBaker ii AUTHORIZATION FOR REPORDUCTION OF MASTER'S THESIS I grant permission for the reproduction of this thesis in its entirety, without further authorization from me, on the condition that the person or agency requesting reproduction absorbs the cost and provides full and proper acknowledgement of authorship. Date: ~ Pt· ll, ?.o 1'2.- Ill The Rediscovery of Mission San Rafael Arcangel: An Archaeological Snapshot of the 20th California Mission Thesis by Cassidy R. DeBaker ABSTRACT Purpose: There has been very little written about Mission San Rafael Arcangel, especially in comparison to the other 20 California missions. Its documentary record is clouded with inconsistencies, omissions, and miscalculations, often raising more questions than answers. A very small body of primary documentation exits that describes the layout of the mission buildings, structures, and surrounding landscape during the Mission Period (1769-1834). A handful of artifacts have been recovered from within and in close proximity to the study area that can be loosely associated with the MSRA, but there has been no positive identification or attempt to locate the original buildings. The purpose of this study is to understand the early footprint of the mission complex, to identify the possible mission-era resource types, and to assess the overall potential for archaeological sensitivity within the study area. This thesis is focused on Mission San Rafael Arcangel during the Mission Period and does not include a detailed land use history of the study area. Methods: In order to illustrate and describe the mission complex, archival data was collected and analyzed using historical research methods and geospatial mapping techniques. Historic survey maps from the Mexican (1821-1848} and American (1848- present) periods were heavily relied upon, as there are no earlier maps, photographs, or sketches that date to the Mission Period. The archival information was compared to the overall documented history of the study area and archaeological discoveries from other California Mission sites. In order to define areas of ground disturbance, a conceptual "cut/fill map" was created by overlaying current elevation readings over an 1879 historic topographic map. Findings: The main chapel building, cemetery, and unknown building were formerly located within the study area. Based on the results of the historical research, the mapped locations of the mission complex and associated landscape features! and the cut/fill map, most of the study area has undergone a substantial amount of modification and disturbance. However, the dearth of historical documents from the Mission Period and the absence of archaeological investigations make it difficult to reliably assess the survival of archaeological remains on the MSRA campus. In short, we do not know the iv extent to which mission-era archaeology has survived. This uncertainty makes it imperative to ensure that important mission-era resources are not inadvertently damaged during future development projects. The discovery and analysis of mission-era archaeological materials or structural remains is crucial for archaeological inquiry because it has the ability to address many unresolved questions about the original placement of the mission complex, chronology, land use areas, and environmental changes. Chair: Signature MA Program: Cultural Resources Management Sonoma State University v ''A modern survey may describe bearings and distances to a greater degree of precision using modern technology, but it can be no more precise than the original measurements that created the original lines" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is a pleasure to thank the many people who made this thesis possible and to whom I am grateful beyond measure. Above alii would like to thank my family for their personal support and great patience at all times. To my mom, Judi, who experienced all the ups and downs of graduate school with me and without whose love, encouragement, and insight, I would not have finished this thesis. To my dad, Gary, who continued to serve as sounding board during the life of this study, and who will continue to be throughout mine. To Daryl and Lily Rose, who patiently allowed me to study at the expense of family duties and who listened to me read out­ loud for countless hours. To my step-mom, Susie, who loves history and people just as much as I do. I would like to thank my thesis committee, Adrian Praetzellis, laura Watt, and Nick Tipon for their direction, dedication, and invaluable advice over these past few years. To my thesis chair Adrian Praetzellis, whose positive, understanding, and encouraging nature has been an inspiration. He has responded to all my questions and queries and coached me to speak with confidence in front of large groups. I hope to someday be able to command an audience as well as he can. I would also like to express deep appreciation to my professors Margaret Purser, John Wingard, laura Watt, and Michelle Jolly for sharing their knowledge with me. I am deeply indebted to Barb Siskin for her continued support and encouragement. I am extremely lucky to have a friend and colleague who cares so much about my work and who deserves thanks for helping me keep things in perspective. Completing this thesis would have been all the more difficult were it not for the support provided by my colleagues at Garcia and Associates, especially John Garcia and Carole Garcia. I am indebted to Barb Siskin, Beatrice Cox, Erica Schultz, Heather Blind, Matt Steinkamp, and Rob Aramayo for their suggestions and review of this work. Many thanks are also extended to the Anthropological Studies Center for their technical and administrative support and to Bryan Mischke for creating the GIS graphics. Finally, I would like to thank the California Missions Foundation and the Mission San Rafael Preservation Foundation, not only for providing the funding which allowed me to undertake this research, but also for giving me the opportunity to attend conferences and meet so many interesting people. I am especially thankful to Teri Brunner, for her unwavering support and help at Mission San Rafael Arcangel. Throughout my research I heard dozens of stories about grandparents, great-uncles, childhood friends, and gardeners, who found artifacts at the mission or recalled a memory of wandering through the mission ruins. This study is in honor of their memories. vi CONTENTS Chapter 1. lntroduction ...............................................................................................1 Mission San Rafael Arcangel ...............................................................................................2 California Mission Studies ..................................................................................................3 Study Area Background ......................................................................................................4 Study Area Location and Description ...................................................................................... 5 Thesis Organization ............................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2. Regulatory Background ............................................................................ 12 Federal Registers, Programs, and Legislation .................................................................... 12 Religious Properties ............................................................................................................... 15 State Registers, Programs, and Legislation ........................................................................ 16 Local Registers, Programs, and Legislation ........................................................................ 18 Marin County Ordinances ..................................................................................................... 18 Protecting The Mission City ................................................................................................... 18 History of Preservation Efforts at MSRA ........................................................................... 19 Chapter 3. Environmental Context ............................................................................ 23 Existing Setting of the Study Area ..................................................................................... 23 Topography and Geology ...................................................................................................... 23 Soils and Sediments ............................................................................................................... 26 San Rafael Creek Watershed ................................................................................................. 27 Historic Period Environmental Changes ............................................................................ 29 Chapter 4. Prehistoric Context ..................................................................................32 Shell Mounds ..................................................................................................................