The Battle of Medina

Recently uncovered artifacts are on display in a temporary exhibit.

More than 1,300 men died fighting for Mexican Independence in the 1813 Battle of Medina. It might seem that the place of such a significant battle would be well-known and easily found, but the location of the battlefield has been unknown for more than a century. Experts have searched for it for decades, and now new evidence of a significant battle location has been uncovered and is on display in an exhibit at the Witte Museum.

American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR), an organization that teams military veterans with professional archeologists, and the UTSA Center for Archaeological Research identified a likely site of the Battle of Medina following research by Bruce Moses and Brandon Seale.

Through careful fieldwork and after removing several layers of soil and sediment, the “Finding Medina Project” uncovered lead shot remnants, musket balls, grape shot, chain and buckle pieces, which are included in the Witte Museum exhibit.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis performed by Texas State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies matched the composition of the artifacts with other known artifacts from the period, suggesting probable association with the Battle of Medina.

The Battle of Medina is open on the 2nd Floor of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center.