Botanical Materials from the Griffin Mound (41UR142) and Underwood (41CP230) Sites

This article presents the results of the macrobotanical analysis of samples from two Caddoan archaeological sites in Northeast Texas. Two flotation samples and 34 screen samples were examined from 41 UR 142, the Griffin Mound site, a Middle Caddoan settlement located on a tributary of Little Cypress Creek. Fifteen finescreen samples were examined from 41CP230, the Underwood site. The screen samples from the Underwood site were recovered from a Late Caddoan Titus phase midden on Big Cypress Creek, in the Lake Bob Sandlin area

The Wolf Site (41SM195), Smith County, Texas

The Wolf site (41SM195) is a prehistoric Caddo site located in eastern Smith County, Texas, in the John Wolf land survey, approximately 12 miles east of Tyler, Texas. This article discusses recent excavations I conducted at the site, and summarizes the archeological findings, including features, the age of the archeological deposits, the various lithic and ceramic artifacts that were recovered, and offers speculations about why this part of Smith County was apparently abandoned by the Caddo peoples in the 15th century. The Wolf site is an important part of my family\u27s history. The abstract for the property begins with a treaty with Mexico on November 8th, 1822, with the Texas Cherokee. My great-great-grandfather, I. N. Browning, purchased the property on November 18, 1867, and this was part of the 4133 acres he owned in eastern Smith County. My grandfather was born on the property, and in 1950, the property again returned to the family\u27s holdings when my father, J. A. Walters, purchased 150 acres of the original tract

41SM195A, The Browning Site

A surface collection of early 19 \u27 century historic sherds led to archaeological investigations in 2002 and 2003 at the Browning site (41SM195A) in eastern Smith County, Texas. My interest was whetted by mention in the original land abstract that the property had once been deeded to the Cherokee Indians. In all, a total of 6.5 cubic meters of archaeological deposits was excavated at the site, including 22 shovel tests and 10 1 x 1 m test units, and fine-screen and flotation samples were taken from a prehistoric midden deposit identified during the work. As a result, 1075 prehistoric and historic artifacts were recovered, along with new information about Woodland period archaeology in this part of East Texas. The initial shovel tests found, in addition to the historic component, a buried midden with evidence of Woodland period occupation. Based on the excavations, the midden covered approximately 500 square meters. The 19th century historic artifacts were found in the upper sediment zone, a brown sandy loam that was mostly gravel- free) covering the midden. The buried midden was a dark yellowish-brown gravelly loam that contained prehistoric pottery, animal bone, charred wood and nutshells, lithic materials, including lithic debris, flake tools, arrow and dart points, and ground stone tools. A calibrated radiocarbon date of A.D. 625 to 880, with a calibrated intercept of A.D. 685, was obtained on charred nutshell from 40-50 em bs in the midden zone. A series of Oxidizable Carbon Ratio (OCR) dates from the midden indicate that the midden began to from about A.D. 147, with dates of A.D. 357-815 from the main part of the midden, indicating when the Browning site was most intensively occupied in prehistoric times

National Register and State Archaeological Landmark Testing for the Austin Independent School District’s Additional 2.7 Acre Access Road Project, Travis County, Texas

In accordance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (13TAC26) and the National Historic Preservation Act (36CFR800), and the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) written recommendations on December 20, 2012, GTI Environmental, LLC (GTI) presents in this report the results of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and State Archaeological Landmark (SAL) testing investigations. The hand excavated 1 x 1 meter test unit investigation and report was prepared for the Austin Independent School District’s (AISD) Additional 2.7 Acre Access Road Project associated with its 27.36 Acre New Bus Terminal Project and 8 Acre Access Road Project in Travis County, Texas. GTI prepared and submitted an Antiquities Permit Application and Research Design to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in accordance with 13TAC26.21(d). The THC issued Antiquities Permit No. 6450 to GTI for the SAL testing investigation. The THC is also known as the State Historic Preservation Office (THC/Tx-SHPO), which reviews federal Undertakings. The Additional 2.7 Acre Access Road Project is a federal Undertaking, because the access road crosses an unnamed tributary of Boggy Creek, which requires consideration and review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The testing investigation conforms to the National Historic Preservation Act (NRHP) requirement to assess effects a federal Undertaking [36CFR800.16(y)] may have to Historic Properties (36CFR800.5). The AISD 27.36 Acre Bus Terminal Project, 8 Acre Access Road Project, and the 2.7 Acre Additional Access Road Project, is considered the overall direct Area of Potential Effect (APE), in accordance with 36CFR800.16(d). GTI conducted the fieldwork from February 6, 2013 through February 14, 2013. The research design proposed five to ten test units within the Additional 2.7 Acre Access Road Project APE. In accordance with 13TAC26.21(d), THC/TX-SHPO guidance was sought prior to research design preparation, and the agency recommended that the Principal Investigator consult with them regarding the total number of test units to be excavated during fieldwork in an effort to exhaust the research potential at 41TV2408 or conduct less than the proposed maximum 10 test units if the results of excavations were less than anticipated [Personal Communication 2012: Bill Martin November 29, 2012]. GTI consulted with THC/TX-SHPO on February 14, 2013 and February 19, 2013. A total of six test units were excavated. The test unit grid was established in a north south axis that would provide a cross sectional profile of the east-west access road alignment. The grid’s north south axis was along the topographic toe-slope where the artifacts were more abundant and the soil was the deepest. Archaeologists encountered a single feature in Test Unit 2 and Test Unit6 at the southern boundary of the project APE. A one gallon soil sample was obtained from Test Unit 2 hearth feature. Neither faunal (bones), nor charcoal was visible after screening the soil sample and flotation based on examination through an Olympus microscope that matched the amounts required for AMS dating; i.e. radio carbon dating requires at least 15 to 20 milligrams. Archaeologists attempted to excavate a 1x2 meter unit east and adjacent to Shovel Test 4 (Iruegas 2013) that indicated the deepest part of the prehistoric midden. A large rodent borrow was present further east of the 1x2m test unit. Excavations in Test Unit 4 established that this area of the midden was intact based on the discovery of a scrapper lying flat on a surface with other flat lying burned rock near the bottom of Level 1. During excavation of Test Unit 4 at Level 3, archaeologists encountered a large cavity associated with the rodent borrows that was at least 40 cm deep and comprised at least 60 percent of Test Unit 4. The buried prehistoric cultural midden deposit evident in Shovel Test 4 during the survey had been truncated by the rodent burrow and compromised the data in this area of the project APE. In consultation with Mr. Brad Jones of THC on Feb. 14, 2013, it was decided to terminate Test Unit 4 and excavate another test unit in the northern area of the project APE and another test unit where the hearth feature was documented. Our efforts resulted in a 1x2 meter unit (Test Unit 2 and Test Unit 6). We encountered bedrock in each test unit, except Test Unit 4, within the first three 10 cm Levels. Archaeologists encountered a very high frequency of lithics and dispersed burned rock in the test units, but no evidence of bones, diagnostic artifacts, such as arrow heads, dart points or projectile points, or datable organic charcoal material Based on the intact hearth feature in Test Unit 2 at the southern end of the project APE, it is highly probable that other hearth features and cultural deposits are present and intact along the toe-slope outside the project APE. Because of the lack of diagnostic artifacts, bone samples, and organic charcoal samples, the wide range of cultural and scientific resources considered in the research design could not be addressed. In general, the cultural assemblage recovered from the test units was less productive than anticipated 13TAC26.21(d)(C) that would warrant mitigation. It is GTI’s Principal Investigator’s opinion that the portion of 41TV2408 within AISD’s Additional 2.7 Acre Access Road Project APE is not worthy for SAL designation or eligible for listing in the NRHP. The site’s (41TV2408) worthiness for designation as a SAL or eligibility for listing in the NRHP outside the project APE is unknown. GTI recommends that the project may proceed as planned provided no additional acreage is required for the AISD Access Road Project. If additional land is required, AISD should consult with the THC regarding the need for further NRHP and SAL testing

Excavations at the Bluff Creek Sites: 41MK10 and 41MK27, McColloch County, Texas

From late 1978 through early 1979, Ann M. Irwin of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) supervised excavations of two prehistoric archeological sites, 41MK10 and 41MK27, that were to be affected by construction along FM 765 in McCulloch County, Texas. The sites are located on Bluff Creek in the northern part of McCulloch County. Analyses of sites 41MK10 and 41MK27 and their cultural materials were conducted by TxDOT personnel in 1979, and an initial draft form of the report was prepared by Irwin in the early 1980s. TxDOT subsequently contracted SWCA, Inc. Environmental Consultants in 1999 to complete the report of the results of archeological investigations at 41MK10 and 41MK27 and to prepare the artifacts and records for curation. Site 41MK27 contained a small burned rock midden, Feature I. This midden was approximately 8 to 10 m in diameter, and 50 cm thick, and annular in form. A single internal feature (Feature IA), a rock-lined pit or hearth, was located in the approximate center and bottom of the midden. Lying between the midden and Bluff Creek were a series of small hearths, of which eight were excavated and designated as Features III through X. These small hearths, most of which had been at least somewhat disturbed, appeared to have been simple structures composed of one or more layers of rock. Many of the individual rocks appear to have been fire-fractured in place. No true basin-shaped hearths were observed. Associated with these hearths were an accompanying scatter of living debris in the form of flint and burned rock and significant quantities of freshwater mussel shell. Although the individual specimens are relatively small, the quantities recovered suggest that they served as a source of food. Radiocarbon data suggest that the site was intermittently occupied from the Late Archaic through the Late Prehistoric. The midden apparently dates to the Late Prehistoric, although the Transitional Archaic period may have been the period of most intense occupation at the site. Site 41MK10 was smaller than 41MK27 and not as intensively investigated. Two small burned rock features were excavated. The site was at least visited in the Late Archaic times, as is evidenced by the presence of a Castroville point, and in the Transitional Archaic, indicated by the recovery of two Ensor projectile points. It is likely, though by no means firmly established, that these dart point types are in fact associated with the use of the features

Life on Jackson Creek, Smith County, Texas: Archeological Investigations of a 14th Century Caddo Domicile at the Leaning Rock Site (41SM325)

The 14th century Caddo Leaning Rock site was initially discovered in the Fall of 2004. It was located during reconnaissance to search out a location for the survey portion of the Texas Archeologica! Society\u27s Academy IO I held in Tyler in February 2005. This was not a formal survey with transect lines. nor one using regularly spaced shovel tests. but was rather more of a windshield \u27 type survey, consisting of driving across pasture lands looking at gopher mounds and checking fore, evidence of archeological deposits on likely looking landforms. !n this area. landform and soil type seem to be the major determining factors in locating Caddo sites. The sandy soils in the scattered gopher mounds appeared almost white. especially in droughty conditions that prevailed at the time. causing an area with darker mounds of soil to catch my attention. Pocket gophers (G. breviceps) can play havoc with buried archeological deposits but can also be useful in bringing buried soils along with archeological materials to the surface from their underground tunnel system. While this dark area could have been the result of past historic land clearing and burning activities. a closer inspection revealed burned bone. mussel she!L and Caddo sherds mixed in the dark brown soils in the scattered gopher mounds. The next step was to record the site with the State of Texas, obtaining the trinomial 41SM325. It is common practice to also gin: sites informal names and after recording several hundred sites, selecting a name becomes a challenge. One large sandstone slab, pan of the R-horizon that is exposed around the margins of Leaning Rock. was unearthed during prior landclearing activities and pushed up against a lonely pine tree on the northern margins of the site: consequently the nom de plume Leaning Rock

Archeological Investigations at the Santa Maria Creek Site (41CW104) Caldwell County, Texas

The excavations by Atkins at the Santa Maria Creek site (41CW104) described in the following report have succeeded in bringing together a myriad of information regarding aboriginal occupations in eastern Central Texas at the dawn of the Historic period. The analysis of the materials recovered from National Register of Historic Places testing and data recovery has demonstrated that even a site buried in sandy, bioturbated sediments can still significantly add to the archeological record. This becomes even more important for areas such as Caldwell County, Texas, which have witnessed few such investigations. The report utilized a wide array of analytical techniques to unravel the site, including extensive ethnohistorical research, artifact analysis, special studies, and experimental archeology

Archeological Investigations at the Santa Maria Creek Site (41CW104) Caldwell County, Texas

Report on the excavations at the Santa Maria creek site in Caldwell County, Texas during 2006 and 2007. The report includes a discussion of research methods, analysis of the findings, and history of the area