In March 1979, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted test excavations in the vicinity of the north wall of the Alamo within the second patio. A great deal of information was recovered about all phases of the development of the site, from the early eighteenth century through the restoration period in the early twentieth century.

Information was recovered on the location and dimensions of defensive trenches and structures constructed in the north courtyard in preparation for the bates of late 1835 and March 1836. A human cranium recovered from the fill of a defensive trench has been identified as possibly a male about 17 to 23 years of age. The ethnic affiliation of the individual could not be positively determined, nor could the cause of death.