Cultural Resources Survey of the Towne Lake Detention Basin and Outfall

This report presents the results of an archeological survey of a proposed detention basin and outflow structures along Cypress Creek in Harris County, Texas. The project was sponsored by the Harris County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 502, and required consultation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This necessitated compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). Acacia Heritage Consulting conducted the archeological survey under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8932. The survey involved visual inspection and subsurface testing in the form of 10 shovel tests and 4 backhoe trenches. Archeologists documented no artifacts or cultural material in any of the subsurface tests. No cultural material was observed on the surface either. Approximately one third of the project area was previously disturbed from vegetation clearing and soil borrowing, possibly to create an expedient flood detention basin. This report recommends that no further archeological work is warranted prior to construction of the Towne Lake detention basin and outfall. No artifacts were collected. All notes and records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies in San Marco

Cultural Resources Survey along Mill Creek near Magnolia, Montgomery County, Texas

This report presents the results of an archeological survey for a 12-acre tract near Mill Creek, south of Farm-to-Market (FM) road 1488 in Montgomery County, Texas. The Montgomery County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 131 is proposing to build public utilities and make modifications to a tributary of Mill Creek on the 12-acre property, which requires consultation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This also necessitates compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). Acacia Heritage Consulting conducted the archeological survey under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 9007. The survey involved visual inspection and subsurface testing in the form of eight shovel tests. Archeologists documented no artifacts or cultural material in any of the subsurface tests. No cultural material was observed on the surface either. The majority of the project area had recently been disturbed from tree removal and burning as part of the site preparation work done by the developer. As a result, surface visibility was nearly 100 percent across the project area and no artifacts or archeological materials were observed anywhere on the surface of this property. This report recommends that no further archeological work is warranted prior to construction of the 12-acre property. No artifacts were collected. All notes and records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies in San Marcos

Archeological Testing of the Engstrand Well 41WM1157, in Williamson County, Texas

Under TAC Permit 4347 Hicks & Company undertook archival research and National Register eligibility archeological testing of a historic limestone well (Site 41WM1157) in the US 79 right-of-way in Williamson County, Texas under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 4347. The project was sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), for regulatory and management purposes under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (13 TAC 26). Archival research was conducted in order to establish the history of ownership and land use for the property. Research revealed that the well was likely built during the 1870s by Carl Engstrand, a Swedish immigrant closely affiliated with the Palm Valley community. Testing involved mechanical excavation around the well to a depth of 2.74 meters (9 ft.) below ground surface in order to expose it and document its construction technique. Then the well was truncated and archeologists excavated the fill by hand to a depth of 3.84 meters (12.5 ft) below ground surface, screening and saving all artifacts. The remaining two meters (6 ft), unreachable by hand investigations due to the constricting interior of the well, were excavated mechanically. The artifacts from the well represent unstratified mid-twentieth century farm household debris. Neither the well nor the artifacts within the well are considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark (SAL). A representative sample of the diagnostic artifacts and all project related records and photographs will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL)

Archeological Survey of Drainage Detention Ponds along FM 1960

In October 2018, AmaTerra Environmental conducted an archeological survey of drainage detention ponds associated with the proposed expansion of FM 1960 from Wilson Drive to Astascosita Shores Drive in Harris County, Texas. The project was conducted in behalf of TxDOT under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8952. Fieldwork entailed visual inspection and shovel testing at four of five detention pond locations. Two additional detention ponds were assessed through archival research and visual inspection and found to have no potential for archeological resources. AmaTerra excavated 28 shovel tests–none of which contained cultural materials. No archeological sites were documented and this report recommends that the project should proceed to construction with no further archeological work. All notes and records will be permanently curated at the Center for Archeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos

Archeological Investigations At The Old Pecos Cemetery (41RV127), Reeves County, Texas

This report summarizes the results of archeological and historical investigations for the Old Pecos Cemetery in Pecos City, Reeves County, Texas. Colgate Energy plans to purchase the area around the cemetery and construct oil and gas facilities on that property. The Old Pecos Cemetery contains graves interred from 1881 to around 1910. It occupies an area of about 0.33 acres and is known to contain many unmarked burials. Colgate Energy hired AmaTerra in August 2017 to investigate outside the fenced limits of the cemetery, to determine whether any unmarked graves are located outside it, and if so, determine the extent of the graves so that they can be avoided. The land is currently owned by Reeves County, a political subdivision of the State of Texas. Therefore, an Antiquities Permit was required under the Antiquities Code of Texas. Work was conducted under Permit No. 8138 and consisted of visual inspection, mechanical scraping using a road grader, and archival research. The survey documented 51 unmarked grave shafts and 10 surface features that likely represent graves within an area encompassing approximately 4.2 acres. AmaTerra documented the expanded cemetery as site 41RV127, and has recorded the new boundary at the Reeves County Clerk’s Office, as required under Chapter 711.011 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. This report recommends that the cemetery 41RV127 is of undetermined eligibility as a State Antiquities Landmark; and further recommends fencing the new cemetery boundary to avoid impacts to marked and unmarked graves within it. No artifacts were collected during the survey, but all notes and records from field investigation will be curated the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos

Archeological Investigations for the FM 270 Shared Use Path from Henderson Avenue to South of the HL&P Hot Water Canal, Harris and Galveston Counties, Texas

In June of 2014, AmaTerra Environmental, Inc. (AmaTerra) carried out an intensive archeological investigation of the Texas Department of Transportation’s proposed bicycle and pedestrian shared use path along Farm-to-Market (FM) 270 in Harris and Galveston Counties, Texas (CSJ: 3312-01-008 and 3312-02-012). The proposed project extends from Henderson Avenue to approximately 1,000 feet south of the Houston Light & Power (HL&P) Hot Water Canal and entails the construction of a 16-foot wide shared use path, which includes two bridges: one over Clear Creek and a second bridge over the HL&P Hot Water Canal. The total project length is approximately 1.1 miles and will require approximately 0.54 acres of newly proposed Right-of-Way (ROW). AmaTerra conducted the archeological survey under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6912. Archeological investigations involved a pedestrian survey, the excavation of 15 shovel tests, and the excavation of six backhoe scrapes across the Area of Potential Effects (APE). Three archeological sites, 41GV53, 41GV78, and 41GV152, were revisited during field investigations. Site 41GV53 is situated on a prominent knoll overlooking Clear Creek. The site, a Prehistoric shell midden, is bisected by FM 270 with site components present on both sides of the roadway and extending into the Clear Creek Nature Preserve. Site components were observed within shovel tests and backhoe scrapes placed at the outside edge of the existing ROW. AmaTerra recommends that intact deposits associated with Site 41GV53 at the edge of the ROW and on the Clear Creek Nature Preserve may be eligible for NRHP/SAL listing. However, within the actual footprint of construction (see Appendix), there is no evidence that artifacts, features, or deposits relating to Site 41GV53 are intact. Site 41GV78 has been completely destroyed through the construction of FM 270, and no further archeological investigations at this site locale are warranted at this time. Site 41GV152, an historic period site containing structural and domestic debris, is also bisected by FM 270 and likely extends into the Clear Creek Nature Preserve. Archeologists observed brick fragments, tabby-like mortar, hand blown glass shards, a plain porcelain sherd, and oyster shell within two shovel tests and backhoe scrapes 3 and 4. AmaTerra recommends that the overall NRHP/SAL eligibility of Site 41GV152 is still undetermined, but that within the FM 270 ROW, there are no archeological deposits that could contribute to eligibility. Based on the results of field investigations, no additional archeological investigations within the proposed APE are warranted at this time. No artifacts were collected during this survey

Archeological Survey Of The Proposed Loop 288 From IH 35E North Of Denton To IH35E At Vintage Boulevard South Of Denton, Denton County, Texas

This report documents the results of an archeological survey conducted on behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas District, for proposed construction of a new segment of Loop 288 that would extend from IH 35E north of Denton to IH 35E at Vintage Boulevard south of Denton (CSJs 2250-02-013 and 2250-02-014). The road project involves construction of new location roadway for a distance of approximately eight miles. Archeological work was performed to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Antiquities Code of Texas, under Texas Antiquities Permit 5660. AmaTerra Environmental, Inc. (AmaTerra) personnel conducted an intensive archeological survey of the project area from June 11 to June 17, 2010, to identify possible cultural resources within the Area of Potential Effect (APE). The project area was subject to 100 percent pedestrian survey wherever access to public and private properties was available. Survey included visual inspection of the landscape, 152 shovel test excavations, and excavation of eight backhoe trenches. No archeological sites were identified within the APE, and no artifacts were collected as this was a non-collection survey. Jon J. Dowling served as Project Archeologist and Rachel Feit acted as Principal Investigator. Approximately 224 person-hours were invested in the field investigation. No archeological resources were identified that meet eligibility requirements for designation as a State Archeological Landmark according to 13 Texas Administrative Code 26, or for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under 36 CFR 60.4. Additional work in connection with the proposed undertaking is not recommended. AmaTerra recommends that the proposed project should proceed to completion

Changing Lifeways along the Guadalupe Basin in South Texas: The Results of National Register Testing of a Stratified Multicomponent Prehistoric Site, 41DW277, DeWitt County, Texas

AmaTerra Environmental (formerly Ecological Communications Corporation [EComm]) conducted archeological National Register eligibility testing at Site 41DW277 in December 2009. The site is located in the proposed right-of-way (ROW) for a new bridge along US 183 over the Guadalupe River, DeWitt County, Texas. Site 41DW277 was documented in 2009 by James Abbott and Allen Bettis of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and at the time of survey it was thought to be potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or as a State Archeological Landmark (SAL). Due to expected impacts resulting from the proposed bridge construction, testing was recommended to determine NRHP/SAL eligibility. TxDOT hired AmaTerra to complete the work under Texas Antiquities Permit 5460. Testing consisted of excavation of five gradall trenches and 32 test units. AmaTerra found that the site consists of three stratified prehistoric components extending from 1–2 meters in depth and ranging from 2,800 years to 5,200 years BP in age. Three features were documented and artifacts recovered included lithic debris and tools, mussel shell, snail shell, a small amount of bone, and some modern household debris (from the top levels of the units). Burned rock was observed and documented but not collected. An interim report was submitted in January 2010 recommending that the upper components of the site are not eligible for NRHP/SAL listing but that lowest and oldest component is eligible. However, the report also recommended that no further work was needed since the lowest component was not within the area of potential effect (APE) for the bridge replacement. The Texas Historical Commission concurred with this recommendation in February 2010. This report documents the results of the testing and analysis for Site 41DW277. Records and artifacts generated during this project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University