Jewelry from Rancho de las Cabras

These glass jeweled crosses and rings were found in the midden for Rancho de las Cabras, the ranch site for Mission Espada. The ranch was located approximately 25 miles south of Mission Espada on the San Antonio River. Young neophyte Mission Indians would have lived at the site while herding goats, sheep, cattle, and horses for the mission. These items are unusual because neophyte ranch hands would not normally have been associated with decorative, high status items like these. Perhaps these objects suggest other inhabitants and different uses for Rancho de las Cabras.