The Naco Border Crossing Station: Archaeology on the Border

1994

The General Services Administration, a branch of the United States government, planned to install new lanes at the Naco Border Crossing Station. The project area contained the ruins of the Copper Queen Store, and additional archaeological features were expected to be present. Extensive stripping of topsoil exposed the original ground surface over a large area. Multiple features were revealed and were subsequently tested.

The Port of Entry at Naco, Arizona is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

A metal detector was used to search for lead bullets fired during the Mexican Revolutions. Several pieces were located, confirming accounts of bullets falling on the American side of the border.

Naco, Sonora was the location of pitched battles during the 1910s, when insurgents fought the Mexican government. American troops were stationed in Naco, Arizona, and camped next to the brick Copper Queen Store. A contemporary photograph shows three tents on the northern side of the store. During this project, the wooden stakes for two of the tents were found in place. A long trench, probably used for protection when battles occurred across the border, was also discovered, along with a number of bullets.

The results of the project were published in a brochure (printed in English and Spanish versions) detailing the history of the site. Historical information from the final report was also incorporated into mosaics mounted on the walls of the pedestrian crossing area. The brochures and the technical report are available online at http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/naco/index.htm.

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