Texas state officials stopped construction near an ancient Native American burial ground.

Construction stopped on the site of a proposed Bulldog Championship Park in Socorro. The intention is to improve the Socorro community.

Mark Wolfe is the executive director of the Texas Historical Commission. Wolfe, along with other state officials, visited the construction site Thursday. Wolfe said the site is the oldest known mission site in Texas. It was dedicated by Spaniards to the Piro Native Americans who lived there in the late 1600s.

Wolfe said the site has international significance along with Native American sacred soil. He said phone calls from Sen. Jose Rodriguez’s office and phone calls from the community brought attention to the fact that construction was being done without a prior archeological study.

"When we heard that there was excavation happening on the site, knowing that it's immediately adjacent to a designated state archeological landmark, we asked the city (of Socorro) to stop work so we could have an opportunity to learn more about what was being done and what work might be proposed in the future," Wolfe said.

Eugene Trujillo is part of the Piro family. He tells a story of his distant relatives being brought as slaves to the area that is now under construction.

"The history proclaims that we (Piro Native Americans) have been extinct,” Trujillo said. “We have not left. We're still here."

Trujillo takes issue with the fact that no archeological study was done before Socorro started construction near the burial site.

"My forefathers are buried there,” Trujillo said. “We want to protect the sacred ground."

Trujillo is at least happy that state officials stepped in and stopped construction.

"I honor the officials of the state to be here,” Trujillo said.  “We (Piro Native Americans) have been disrespected for so many years."

Trujillo said if the mission site can’t be preserved through state efforts he and his family might take the issue to the federal government.

Wolfe said that the city of Socorro is working with the state to learn more about the land.