A Reconnaissance of a Channel Dam Site and Flood Area on the San Saba River, Menard County, Texas

During December 1984, a reconnaissance was carried out along portions of the San Saba River west of Menard, Texas. The purpose of the study was to examine the location where a new channel dam will be constructed, and areas upstream, including Presidio San Sabá (41 MN 1), to determine what cultural resources might be affected by any water level change as a result of dam installation. The reconnaissance determined that construction of a new concrete dam to replace an earlier earthen dam of similar size will not impact any known cultural resources. The water level is not expected to be appreciable higher and, therefore, will not impact Presidio San Sabá. However, during a visit to Presidio San Sabá, it was noted that golf course sprinkler system trenches have recently been excavated across portions of the historic site by the County of Menard. This trenching has disturbed buried cultural resources

Archaeological and Historical Investigations for the Mission Road Realignment Project, San Antonio, Texas

The Mission Road Realignment Project proposes to relocate the current position of Mission Road, which transects the original Mission Concepcion quadrangle, farther west and in the vicinity of the road\u27s 18th-century location. Archaeological testing conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research sought to determine if significant cultural resources would be adversely impacted by the road relocation project. Intensive testing established that no significant remains were located within or adjacent to the proposed right-of-way

A Reconnaissance of Electrical Transmission Line Rights-of-way in Bandera and Kerr Counties, Texas

During January 1986, the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted a reconnaissance level survey for the Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. Approximately 98 km of electrical transmission rights-of-way were surveyed. Nine archaeological sites were identified. None of the sites were found to be potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Construction activities in the vicinity of these sites will not adversely impact any of the nine sites

Archaeological Monitoring at Three Prehistoric Locales in Zapata County, Texas

Archaeological monitoring at three locales on federal land within the Falcon Reservoir was conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, on October 2 and 3, 1986. Machine trenching across each locale was done by Arco Oil and Gas Company, Freer, Texas, in conjunction with the construction of a pipeline which crosses both private and federal lands adjacent to the Beckwith Arm of Falcon Reservoir. Trenching did not adversely affect the integrity of cultural materials at any of the three locales. One of the locales was designated an archaeological site (41ZP109), and one archaeological site (41ZP108) not previously recorded was located. None of the locales or sites meet the eligibility criteria to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places or to be designated as a State Archaeology Landmark

An Archaeological Survey of a Proposed Water Main in Val Verde County, Texas

During September 11-13, 1985, the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, conducted an archaeological survey of a proposed water main pipeline for the Department of the Army, Albuquerque District, Corps of Engineers. The pedestrian survey identified one archaeological site (41 VV 810) that produced no temporally diagnostic artifacts. Construction of the water main will not adversely affect the site

First fringes with an integrated-optics beam combiner at 10 um - A new step towards instrument miniaturization for mid-infrared interferometry

Observations at mas-resolution scales and high dynamic range hold a central place in achieving, for instance, the spectroscopic characterization of exo-Earths or the detailed mapping of their protoplanetary disc birthplace. Ground or space-based multi-aperture infrared interferometry is a promising technique to tackle these goals. But significant efforts still need to be undertaken to achieve a simplification of these instruments if we want to combine the light from a large number of telescopes. Integrated-optics appears as an alternative to the current conventional designs, especially if its use can be extended to a higher number of astronomical bands. This article reports for the first time the experimental demonstration of the feasibility of an integrated-optics approach to mid-infrared beam combination for single-mode stellar interferometry. We have fabricated a 2-telescope beam combiner prototype integrated on a substrate of chalcogenide glasses, a material transparent from 1 to 14 um. We have developed laboratory tools to characterize the modal properties and the interferometric capabilities of our device. We obtain fringes at 10 um and measure a mean contrast V=0.981 \pm 0.001 with high repeatability over one week and high stability over 5h. We show experimentally - as well as on the basis of modeling considerations - that the component has a single-mode behavior at this wavelength, which is essential to achieve high-accuracy interferometry. From previous studies, the propagation losses are estimated to 0.5 dB/cm for such components. We also discuss possible issues that may impact the interferometric contrast. The IO beam combiner performs well at 10. We also anticipate the requirement of a better matching between the numerical apertures of the component and the (de)coupling optics to optimize the total throughput. The next step foreseen is the achievement of wide-band interferograms.Comment: Accepted in A&A; 7 pages; 7 figure

Archaeological Investigations for the Canyon Hydroelectric Project, Comal County, Texas

During January 1986, the Center for Archaeological Research from The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted a pedestrian survey along portions of a proposed Canyon Lake hydroelectric transmission line right-of-way in Comal County, Texas, for the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. The survey located six prehistoric sites (41 CM 160, 41 CM 161, 41 CM 162, 41 CM 163, 41 CM 164, and 41 CM 166) in the right-of-way, and one historic building complex (41 CM 165) adjacent to but well outside of the right-of-way. Recommendations were made for further testing of the prehistoric sites and background research for the historic site to determine their potential eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and as a Texas Archeological Landmark. During April 1986, the Center conducted testing at prehistoric sites 41 CM 160, 41 CM 161, 41 CM 162, 41 CM 163, and 41 CM 164. Archival research was done for 41 CM 165. This work was done for the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority as required by the Texas Historical Commission. All of the prehistoric sites were found to be lithic quarry sites that are deemed to have little potential for contributing significant new archaeological information. None are recommended as potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register or for Texas Archeological Landmark status. The historic site (41 CM 165) appears to have National Register potential. Further background research, building documentation, and selective testing are recommended, but not as part of this project

An Archaeological and Historical Assessment of the Vista Verde South Project, San Antonio, Texas

The Vista Verde South project area has borne witness to much of the economic development that has occurred in downtown San Antonio since the early years of Texas\u27 statehood. As with many other areas of San Antonio, economic interests stimulated early development. Following the Civil War, this area became an integral part in San Antonio\u27s flourishing freight hauling and transportation network. By the turn of the 20th century, the area had developed into an ethnically diverse, middle-class neighborhood, while just a few blocks away, San Antonio\u27s infamous Red Light District thrived. The Great Depression of 1929 struck a critical blow to economic development of this area from which it never fully recovered. Economic decline and social change reduced this neighborhood to a blighted area within a sprawling metropolitan city by the 1970s. The purpose of the Vista Verde South project is to revitalize 31 city blocks by redevelopment. This report documents the historical, architectural, and archaeological remnants left from roughly 150 years of known occupation in the project area

Archaeological Investigations at Fort Martin Scott (41GL52) in Gillespie County, Texas

During May 24-30, 1986, archaeological investigations at Fort Martin Scott (41GL52) were conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The fort was established by the U.S. Army in 1848. It was the fifth United States fort in Texas. Only one of the fort’s original buildings now exists. The foundations for an additional eight structures were identified and documented by this project. The property on which this old fort is located is owned by the City of Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg Heritage Federation plans to develop the area as a day-use facility which includes archaeological and historical interpretations of the fort during its tenure (1848-1853) as a military outpost on western frontier

La Villita Earthworks (41BX677): San Antonio, Texas A Preliminary Report of Investigations of Mexican Siege Works at the Battle of the Alamo

La Villita Earthworks is located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Texas. The site appears to have been formed initially in late February 1836, by Mexican soldiers with General Santa Anna’s invading forces during the second battle of the Alamo. The outcome of this battle has been the topic for literally thousands of books over the past 149 years. Now, for the first time, archaeological evidence has been discovered which provides the first real glimpse at the Mexican side of the battle of the Alamo. The ramifications of the discovery are yet to be fully realized. Military historians and other scholars now have material evidence from the actual battle by which to evaluate the accuracy of the several eyewitness accounts of the battle. For archaeologists, the site represents the most comprehensive look yet afforded at San Antonio during this famous period