Evaluation of Archaeological Material from the Little Church of La Villita Property, San Antonio, Texas

On June 25th, 1993, Dale Bransford of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department brought several bone fragments to the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). These bones had been discovered by workmen installing a French drain along the east side of the Little Church of La V ill ita in downtown San Antonio. Inspection identified the bones as human, so CAR staff members visited the site to investigate and collect other remains. No excavation was attempted. Subsequent skeletal analysis revealed the presence of at least two individuals in the collection. Because of the absence of diagnostic artifacts, a sample of bone was sent for accelerator dating. The resulting date of 380 ± 60 B.P. (Beta-67731 AMS-9901) suggests that these remains are those of at least two late prehistoric or proto historic occupants of south central Texas. The Delta13 C value of the bone indicates a dietary regime which emphasized C4-based food sources, in this case probably bison

Current status of fungal and viral infections of the Peaks of Otter salamander and sympatric amphibians in Central Virginia

Salamanders use their skin for several vital functions such as respiration, absorption, osmoregulation, and thermoregulation. This makes them very susceptible to pathogens that affect the skin. The cutaneous fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), as well as the viral pathogen ranavirus are all contributors to salamander declines worldwide. Prevalence for each of these pathogens varies across the United States. This study aims to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in salamanders across several sites in the Peaks of Otter area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The main objective of the study is to assess the health of the Peaks of Otter salamander, an endemic species for which no disease survey has been published. To complete our objectives, a quantitative PCR assay was used to detect the presence of pathogens in samples (n=299) collected from 10 salamander species at 10 sites. Bsal was not detected and an extremely low prevalence of Bd (6%) was detected among all samples. Of the 176 Peaks of Otter salamanders, Bd was only detected on two individuals. Future work will determine the prevalence of ranavirus. Based on these data, Bd is present but may not impact the health of salamanders in our study area. These results will act as a reference for future monitoring of the Peaks of Otter salamander communities and can better inform conservationists about the health of the surrounding aquatic ecosystems

Investigations of the Southeast Gateway at Mission San Jose, Bexar County, Texas

In April 1996, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological investigations in the vicinity of the southeast gate at Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, 41BX3. This investigation was necessitated by final-stage improvements associated with the construction of the National Park Service Visitors’ Center which included the installation of a storm drain to channel rain water away from the mission compound. The drain was scheduled to run from a point 22 ft inside the mission compound, through the southeast gateway, and to connect with an existing drainage system 100 ft southeast of the gate. During previous archaeological testing conducted by CAR in 1993 in anticipation of the construction of the visitors’ center (Hard et al. 1995), an undisturbed Colonial-period deposit was identified 15–20 inches below the surface along segments of the proposed 36-inch-wide storm drain impact area. A stone alignment believed to represent a portion of the original mission wall and Spanish colonial-period artifacts were identified in a zone 25–35 inches below the surface within the southeast gateway. Based on this information, the present data recovery project was designed. Nine 4-x-4-ft units and one 6-x-6-ft unit were excavated along the expanse of the drainage trench within the compound and gateway proper. Nine shovel tests and three backhoe trenches were also dug along the portion of the proposed pipeline outside the mission walls where previous investigations revealed the presence of post-1900 activities (Hard et al. 1995). This work resulted in the recovery of ceramics, lithics, and faunal remains from relatively undisturbed Spanish colonial context as well as cultural material from nineteenth- and twentieth-century occupations. During excavation, portions of the original exterior and interior walls of the mission compound were discovered. Construction plans were altered to preserve these exposed sections of the wall

Excavation in a Historic Cemetery Milam Park Renovation Phase II

Phase n of archaeological investigations at Milam Park in downtown San Antonio, Texas, were conducted by staff members from the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio. This project consisted of shovel tests and monitoring of all excavations connected with construction and renovation activities at the park. Shovel tests were dug prior to ground alterations to assess the amount of recent fill dirt covering the historic surface of the park. The assessment allowed identification of areas of the park that might be sensitive to construction impact. This information was used by the San Antonio Department of Parks and Recreation in planning new landscape features. Additionally, because Milam Park had once been a city cemetery, all ground leveling and grading operations, all new sewer and electric line trenching activities, and all light standard and tree planting excavations were monitored by CAR staff. One historic burial was encountered, exhumed, and analyzed