Preliminary Archaeological Investigations of part of the San Pedro Acequia, San Antonio, Texas

In April 1979, Mr. R. W. Miller, Director of Construction Management, General Services Administration (GSA), contacted the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, to request archaeological investigations of GSA property located south of the Old U.S. Arsenal, between South Flores Street and South Main Avenue in downtown San Antonio. The investigations would be conducted to determine if the Spanish Colonial San Pedro Acequia (not to be confused with San Pedro Creek nearby) ran through the property as indicated on old maps; and if so, to locate it and describe its construction and condition. This information was needed so that the Acequia (ditch), if found in the area, could be avoided and protected during planned future developments. Early in June the Center was authorized to proceed with the investigations, and two archaeologists, with the aid of a backhoe, spent five days systematically testing the property. The Acequia was eventually found, but not precisely where it was indicated to be on available maps. Because time and funding allotted to do the investigations were nearly expended before a stone-lined portion of the Acequia was discovered, the tests were considered incomplete for detailed planning purposes. Therefore, this report will describe what was actually found and recommendations for continued investigations to more fully trace and record the Acequia

Excavations at the Alamo Shrine (Mission San Antonio de Valero)

In March 1977, excavations were conducted in front of Alamo Shrine where flagstone paving was being replaced by the City of San Antonio. The subsurface investigations sampled and described the soil stratigraphy which has accumulated through 2.5 centuries of occupation. The distinctive soil levels contained datable cultural materials which relate to some of the major events which took place from the earliest settlement of Mission San Antonio de Valero through subsequent periods of Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-Texan occupations. The artifact collections have provided additional information on the material culture of the different ethnic and cultural groups to occupy the Alamo. During the excavations, a section of a trench was found in which a palisade had been set prior to the battle of 1836. The trench backfill contained numerous battle artifacts. Also a section of the old street curb which once extended along the front of the Alamo was uncovered. In addition, excavations in front of Alamo Shrine have provided an examination of the old church foundation and footing. This was found to be in good condition

Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico: A Guide to the Town and Missions

This guide to the town and missions at Guerrero, Coahuila, is based largely upon the research efforts of the Gateway Project, an archaeological and ethnohistoric study of the area conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio during 1975 to 1977. Because the project was dealing with historic mission buildings which housed native American inhabitants of the region, the project had both historic and prehistoric aspects. The Indians gathered into the missions where inheritors of the native cultural tradition began at least 11,000 years ago. Therefore, an archaeological survey of prehistoric sites in the region of the missions, on both sides of the Rio Grande, was included in the study. The excavations carried out at the missions located the buried remains of historic buildings which had been lost and forgotten for nearly a century. In addition, the sifting of the soils removed from the building remains provided both Spanish and Indian artifacts which were related to mission activities. Ethnohistoric research focused on old Spanish documents which provided valuable additional information about the missionizing program at Guerrero, and also aided to illuminate the archaeological findings. The results of the Gateway Project are beginning to appear in a series of publications issued by the Center for Archaeological Research

An Initial Archaeological Assessment of Area Proposed for Modification at Fort McIntosh, Webb County, Texas

From April 4 to 11, 1977, archaeologists from The University of Texas at San Antonio, Center for Archaeological Research, visited the site of Fort McIntosh (41 WE 11), presently occupied by the Laredo Junior College, Laredo, Texas. The purpose of the visit was to conduct four days of on-the-ground survey and limited testing in the southwestern area of the Fort Site where construction of college athletic facilities is planned. This area lies between the college campus and the bank of the Rio Grande. The survey was designed to determine, if possible, what archaeological and historical resources remain in the proposed development area (Fig. 1). The survey was conducted under formal contract between the Laredo Junior College (Dr. Domingo Arechiga, President) and The University of Texas at San Antonio, Center for Archaeological Research. Fieldwork was done under the supervision of Dr. Thomas R. Hester, Center Director, and Mr. Jack D. Eaton, Research Associate

Archaeological Assessment of Two Sites in the Vicinity of Floodwater Retarding Structure No. 11, Salado Creek Watershed, Bexar County, Texas

In March of 1977, the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio was contacted by Mr. George C. Marks of the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (Temple, Texas) regarding further archaeological research at two archaeological sites within the area of proposed Floodwater Retarding Structure No. 11 on the Salado Creek Watershed in Bexar County, Texas. These two sites had been located in an earlier reconnaissance of the region conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research (Hester et al. 1974). Recommendations made at that time for these two sites included a careful definition of the limits of the archaeological materials and an evaluation of subsurface potential

An Archaeological and Historical Survey of Walnut Creek, Seguin, Texas

During March 1977, the Center for Archaeological Research conducted archaeological and historical surveys of Walnut Creek at Seguin, Texas. The surveys were performed under contract with Hallenberger, Galindo and Associates, Consulting Engineers. This engineering firm, in turn, has been contracted by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to do a study of proposed flood control developments along Walnut Creek in anticipation of the projected 50-year flood cycle. The archaeological and historical surveys of Walnut Creek Were part ofa larger study to assess the environmental impact of the area by the proposed flood control developments. This report, which describes the surveys made along Walnut Creek, is presented in two parts: Part I deals with the historical survey and is written by James E. Ivey; Part II covers the archaeological survey done by Cristi Assad and Erwin Roemer. The results of these surveys and suggested recommendations are presented herein

Archaeological Testing for a Proposed Landfill Expansion (Phase II) City of Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas

During September 1989, a pedestrian survey was conducted within a I~S-acre tract acquired by the City of Del Rio, Val Verde County, for a landfill expansion project. The surface reconnaissance recorded one prehistoric site, 41 VV 1251. As a result, recommendation was made for Phase II subsurface testing. The Phase II subsurface testing, which included a geomorphic study, was accomplished during February 1990. Cultural resources were recovered indicating presence at site 41 VV 1251 from the Late Paleo-Indian period to the Late Archaic period. However, the site was determined to be almost totally deflated. The geomorphological tests verified this assessment and indicated no deeply buried deposits. Site 41 VV 1251 is not deemed potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or for designation as a State Archeological Landmark

Comparison of empirically derived and model-based estimates of key population HIV incidence and the distribution of new infections by population group in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: The distribution of new HIV infections among key populations, including female sex workers (FSWs), gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and people who inject drugs (PWID) are essential information to guide an HIV response, but data are limited in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We analyzed empirically derived and mathematical model-based estimates of HIV incidence among key populations and compared with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates.Methods: We estimated HIV incidence among FSW and MSM in SSA by combining meta-analyses of empirical key population HIV incidence relative to the total population incidence with key population size estimates (KPSE) and HIV prevalence. Dynamic HIV transmission model estimates of HIV incidence and percentage of new infections among key populations were extracted from 94 country applications of 9 mathematical models. We compared these with UNAIDS-reported distribution of new infections, implied key population HIV incidence and incidence-to-prevalence ratios.Results: Across SSA, empirical FSW HIV incidence was 8.6-fold (95% confidence interval: 5.7 to 12.9) higher than total population female 15–39 year incidence, and MSM HIV incidence was 41.8-fold (95% confidence interval: 21.9 to 79.6) male 15–29 year incidence. Combined with KPSE, these implied 12% of new HIV infections in 2021 were among FSW and MSM (5% and 7% respectively). In sensitivity analysis varying KPSE proportions within 95% uncertainty range, the proportion of new infections among FSW and MSM was between 9% and 19%. Insufficient data were available to estimate PWID incidence rate ratios. Across 94 models, median proportion of new infections among FSW, MSM, and PWID was 6.4% (interquartile range 3.2%–11.7%), both much lower than the 25% reported by UNAIDS.Conclusion: Empirically derived and model-based estimates of HIV incidence confirm dramatically higher HIV risk among key populations in SSA. Estimated proportions of new infections among key populations in 2021 were sensitive to population size assumptions and were substantially lower than estimates reported by UNAIDS.</div

Measuring HIV acquisitions among partners of key populations: estimates from HIV transmission dynamic models

BACKGROUND: Key populations (KPs), including female sex workers (FSWs), gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and transgender women (TGW) experience disproportionate risks of HIV acquisition. The UNAIDS Global AIDS 2022 Update reported that one-quarter of all new HIV infections occurred among their non-KP sexual partners. However, this fraction relied on heuristics regarding the ratio of new infections that KPs transmitted to their non-KP partners to the new infections acquired among KPs (herein referred to as "infection ratios"). We recalculated these ratios using dynamic transmission models.SETTING: One hundred seventy-eight settings (106 countries).METHODS: Infection ratios for FSW, MSM, PWID, TGW, and clients of FSW were estimated from 12 models for 2020.RESULTS: Median model estimates of infection ratios were 0.7 (interquartile range: 0.5-1.0; n = 172 estimates) and 1.2 (0.8-1.8; n = 127) for acquisitions from FSW clients and transmissions from FSW to all their non-KP partners, respectively, which were comparable with the previous UNAIDS assumptions (0.2-1.5 across regions). Model estimates for female partners of MSM were 0.5 (0.2-0.8; n = 20) and 0.3 (0.2-0.4; n = 10) for partners of PWID across settings in Eastern and Southern Africa, lower than the corresponding UNAIDS assumptions (0.9 and 0.8, respectively). The few available model estimates for TGW were higher [5.1 (1.2-7.0; n = 8)] than the UNAIDS assumptions (0.1-0.3). Model estimates for non-FSW partners of FSW clients in Western and Central Africa were high (1.7; 1.0-2.3; n = 29).CONCLUSIONS: Ratios of new infections among non-KP partners relative to KP were high, confirming the importance of better addressing prevention and treatment needs among KP as central to reducing overall HIV incidence.</p