The Potential Applications of Optical Dating to the Sandy Uplands of East Texas and Northwest Louisiana

The fine, sandy soils of East Texas and Northwest Louisiana have been the source of archaeological debate for some time. This discourse concerns the mode of burial of cultural material in the easily eroded soils and the mechanics of recent (Holocene) landform evolution. Because these deposits are typically well-drained, organic matter does not preserve well, thus hindering the dating of the geomorphic events that figure prominently in their development and the prehistoric occupations which lie buried throughout uplands of this region. A relatively new dating technique, optical dating, has much to offer this region and the archaeological community as it measures the period of time that has elapsed since sand grains were last exposed to sunlight. Hence, it directly dates the time of sediment transportation and deposition. This method is therefore applicable to a number of archaeological and geomorphic processes which may not be dated by traditional methods, owing to the lack of organic matter suitable for radiocarbon dating. In geomorphic contexts, optical dating may be preferred over radiocarbon as it directly dates the time of sedimentation rather than the age of organic matter in features such as buried soils that may be significantly different from the geomorphic event which fossilized the soil

Archeological Testing of the Pavo Real Site (41BX52), San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio performed archeological testing at the Pavo Real site (41BX52) between November 2006 and June 2007 for HNTB. The purpose of archeological testing was to determine the depth of construction fill and the presence, location and, if possible, condition, of any remnant archeological deposits. Proposed improvements along Loop 1604 include bridge bents that will be constructed east of Leon Creek and west of the IH-10/Loop 1604 interchange overpass. Impacts associated with proposed improvements will occur within the boundaries and in the immediate vicinity of 41BX52. Archeological testing consisted of coring, backhoe trenching and block excavations. Coring and backhoe trenching within the northern and southern medians indicated the presence of thick fill material of unknown depths in the western portion of the site and a decrease in fill and soils on the eastern segment. Suite II soils, that were assumed to be associated with the first occupation of the site, were identified during backhoe trenching, initiating block excavations. Block excavations were conducted within the area to be directly impacted by a bridge bent and basin in aims of dating Suite II soils. The excavation of two 2-x-2-meter (m) blocks and two additional 1-x-1-m units produced Early Archaic diagnostics. Paleoindian period materials were not encountered during archeological investigations of the site. Two samples collected from Block 2 excavations yielded single grain OSL ages of 18,300±920 years BP and 18,200±1,030 years BP. Statistical analysis concluded that lithic debitage recovered from the Suite II deposits were significantly smaller than Suites III and IV specimens, supporting the conclusion that cultural material from Suite III could have worked their way down into the deposit accounting for the specimens present in Suite II. Moreover, OSL results suggested that Suite II deposits may have undergone post-depositional disturbance. Archeological testing of the site was conducted under Texas Antiquities permit No. 4092. The initial coring and trenching of the site was conducted under a TxDOT General Services Contract with Raymond P. Mauldin serving as the principal investigator. The subsequent testing was performed under a contract with HNTB with Steve Tomka serving as the principal investigator. Antonia L. Figueroa served as the project archeologist. Charles D. Frederick served as the project geoarcheologist. All artifacts and records collected during this project are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research according to Texas Historical Commission guidelines

Syndicalism and the Co-operative Commonwealth. (How we shall bring about the Revolution.)

n/

Archeological And Historical Resources Surveys Of 1,460 Acres At Eagle Pass Mine, Maverick County, Texas

From April to June 2014, personnel from Prewitt and Associates, Inc., conducted an archeological and historical resources survey for Camino Real Fuels, L.L.C., of the North American Coal Corporation and the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership (DRCP) within 1,460 acres of land at the Eagle Pass Mine in Maverick County, Texas. The archeological survey resulted in the discovery and documentation of 16 previously unrecorded sites. Of the 16 sites, 15 are prehistoric Native American sites, and 1 is an artifact scatter associated with a complex of ruinous buildings. Three of the Native American sites are within floodplain settings and contain subsurface deposits, while all other recorded sites are confined to the surface. The 3 floodplain sites, 41MV394–41MV396, are of unknown eligibility for listing in the National Register of historic Places under Criterion D and would need additional investigation for complete assessments. The other 13 sites are ineligible for National Register listing. The historical resources survey identified six resources: three buildings and a structure associated with the 1912–1944 Rohleder Brothers ranch; a mid-twentieth-century private irrigation system; and a ca. 1960 lake. These historical resources are recommended as ineligible for listing in the National Register

Land grading for irrigation : design and construction (1993)

Land grading is reshaping the surface of land to planned grades for irrigation and subsequent drainage. Land grading permits uniform and efficient application of irrigation water without excessive erosion and at the same time provides for adequate surface drainage. A plane surface (uniform row and cross slopes) is easiest to manage and maintain. All lands to be graded for irrigation should be suitable for use as irrigated land and for the proposed methods of water application. Water supplies and the delivery system should be sufficient to make irrigation practical for the crops to be grown and the irrigation water application methods to be used

A Geoarcheological Survey of the Proposed Plainview Hike and Bike Trail, Hale County, Texas

In March of 2005, the Texas Department of Transportation issued work authorization #575-01-SA005 to the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio to conduct a survey of areas affected by proposed improvements to the Plainview hike and bike trail in southern Plainview, Hale County, Texas. The survey was conduced under Texas Antiquities Permit #3707 between March 31 and April 7, 2005. Steve Tomka and Raymond Mauldin served as Principal Investigators. Trail construction included 2.0 miles of additional construction and 1.3 miles of improvements to existing trails. The Right-of-Way is 50 feet and extends from one to three feet below ground surface. Archeological services included a pedestrian survey, excavation of fifty-five auger tests placed no more than 100 m apart, and twenty-one Gradall trenches. Two of these trenches exposed the stratigraphy of Running Water Draw near the Plainview Site, 41HA1. Bulk samples were collected for OSL dating, diatoms analysis, and lithologic analysis for further examination of the age and stratigraphic context of the Plainview Site, which is a State Archeological Landmark, a National Landmark, and a National Register of Historic Places property. Site 41HA12 was re-examined with 10 mechanical auger tests and 1 trench, which found only recent alluvial and cultural deposition. No additional archeological sites were recorded. This report includes descriptions of the fieldwork, results of the special analyses performed on bulk sediment samples collected, and a discussion of the geomorphology of Running Water Draw with specific focus on the results from trenches excavated near the Plainview Site. The single artifact and all documents and photographs generated from this project are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio

Investigations into the potential effects of pedoturbation on luminescence dating

Much effort has been focussed on understanding the luminescence properties of natural minerals to achieve a reliable, accurate and precise dating technique. However, some field related aspects, such as the influence or effect of post-depositional disturbance on luminescence dates, are as yet underexplored. In the case of pedoturbation, depending on its intensity, the rate of sedimentation and unit thicknesses, potentially the whole sedimentary record at a site can be affected. This may lead to distorted OSL chronologies and erroneous sediment burial ages. Pedoturbation can result in sediment mixing and/or exhumation that affect luminescence both at the bulk and single grain level. Effects of these two principle processes on luminescence ages are examined using standard multigrain and single grain protocols. High resolution sampling of surface gopher mounds was used to determine the efficiency of bio-exhumation in resetting luminescence signal. Results show this is an inefficient mechanism for onsite sediment bleaching. The effects on luminescence signal of bio-mixing were explored by comparing a sample collected from within a krotovina (infilled burrow) to an adjacent undisturbed sample. Results show the difficulties in identifying pedoturbated samples at the single aliquot level and the possible inaccuracies in using the lowest palaeodose values to calculate OSL ages. Where pedoturbation of samples is suspected, use of probability plots of palaeodoses data is recommended. From these plots it is proposed that only data falling within a normal distribution centred on the peak probability be used to calculated OSL ages and to mitigate problems arising from pedoturbation

Archeological And Geoarcheological Investigations For The New Baylor University Football Stadium In Waco, Mclennan County, Texas

Between May 21 and 31, 2012, Prewitt and Associates, Inc., conducted archeological and geoarcheological investigations over a 93-acre area proposed for construction of the new Baylor University football stadium in Waco, Texas. The work included visual assessment of the project area, excavation of 63 trenches, and collection of 4 Geoprobe sediment core samples. Deep trench excavations were hampered by an elevated water table. As a result, most observations were limited to deposits at depths of 3 m or less, though the sediment cores did provide information to depths of 5.5–11.0 m. The investigations determined that all but the northern edge of the project area is on a lower alluvial surface that was created by a series of Brazos River flood events over the last 200–300 years and that has a very low potential for prehistoric archeological sites. The higher alluvial surface at the north edge of the project also is blanketed with these recent deposits, with a buried soil found through coring at a depth of 7.5 m suggesting that deep burial of cultural material of Holocene age is possible here. The survey identified a single historic archeological site, 41ML301, consisting of a railroad bed that was abandoned between 1957 and 1970; it is not considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The potential for the project to impact undiscovered archeological resources is low to nonexistent because of the recent age of the deposits, the fact that the area never saw much historic development, and the fact that much of it has been disturbed. Prewitt and Associates, Inc., recommends that the project be allowed to proceed without additional archeological work