By Cristóbal López
One of the many characteristics and customs of Spanish Missions along the borderlands was the establishment of a camposanto (sacred burial ground) for baptized Native Americans and citizens of New Spain. Generally, Spanish missionaries established camposantos in front of the church or as near to the front of the church as possible. Today, there are two grave markers in a small camposanto located in front of the church at Mission San José.
Were these graves part of a larger cemetery? What is the history of the Mission San José camposanto?
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service