Data Recovery Excavations at 41BX1412 A Multicomponent Site in McAllister Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio contracted with the city of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department to conduct data recovery excavations at site 41BX1412 in McAllister Park, northeast San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Data recovery excavations were initiated at the site in order to mitigate the impact of the construction-related disturbances that would result from the proposed expansion of Bee Tree Drive towards Starcrest Drive at the southeast edge of the park. The expansion of Bee Tree Drive could not be redesigned to avert impact to 41BX1412, a multicomponent archaeological site recorded during a survey conducted in 2000 by CAR personnel. The data recovery efforts consisted of the investigation of a total of 128.5 m2 of the site. The fieldwork was carried out between September 22 and 29, 2000, under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2466. Steve A. Tomka served at project archaeologist. Testing suggested the presence of an Early Archaic, and a possible late Paleoindian , component at the site. Data recovery excavations revealed no intact features. More importantly, the excavations indicated that although an Early Archaic cultural zone may exist at the site, buried some 60 cm below surface, no in situ temporal diagnostics were recovered from this zone. Unexpectedly, the data recovery efforts yielded Middle Archaic temporal diagnostics but no intact deposits. A number of lines of evidence suggest that the site has undergone significant disturbance, most likely during the original construction of Bee Tree Drive. The results of the fieldwork and analysis suggest that the site has been heavily disturbed and does not warrant listing to the National Register of Historic Places nor designation as a State Archeological Landmark

An Archaeological Survey of Walker Ranch Park, Bexar County, Texas

The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an intensive surface survey and subsurface testing for cultural resources at the proposed Walker Ranch Park, in northwest San Antonio, Bexar County. Disturbances associated with the park are to include the construction of a parking lot, playground, pavilion, walking/jogging trail, ramps and traffic paths for wheelchair access to the park, and the installation of utility and drainage lines associated with these facilities. The project was carried out under contract with the city of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department between December 1 and 4, 1997. The project consisted of three tasks: 1) the excavation of 10 backhoe trenches; 2) the excavation of 35 shovel tests, and 3) the intensive pedestrian survey of approximately 4.0 acres of the park. Buried cultural materials were encountered at a depth of 60-100 cm below surface (bs) in two backhoe trenches (BHTs 8 and 9) located along Panther Springs Creek. These remains are redeposited and have no potential for archaeological interpretations. Small numbers of chipped stone flakes were noted primarily in Level 3 (20-30 cm bs) in shovel tests excavated along the north-central and south-central portions of the exercise trail. Widely scattered individual chipped stone artifacts were observed throughout the park. In addition, two small concentrations of historic artifacts and a partially quarried limestone block were identified by the pedestrian survey. The material concentrations have a late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century date range. The partially quarried limestone block probably dates to the mid-nineteenth century. The thin surface scatter of prehistoric artifacts, the shallowly buried specimens, the two historic artifact concentrations, and the partially quarried limestone block are designated as the multicomponent site 41BX1271. CAR recommends that as long as subsurface disturbances are limited to the upper 20 cm in the north-central and south-central portions of the exercise trail, they will not impact potentially buried components. Deeper subsurface disturbances in other portions of site 41BX1271 at Walker Ranch Park will not adversely affect significant cultural resources

Cultural Resources Monitoring of the San Antonio Water System Parland Place Water and Sewer Main Installation Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI), was contracted by K FRIESE + ASSOCIATES (CLIENT), on behalf of San Antonio Water System (SAWS), to perform cultural resources monitoring investigations for the Parland Place Water and Sewer Replacement Project in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The undertaking involved the installation of a new sewer main, water main, and associated service connections within the Parland Place right-of-way (ROW) in northeastern downtown San Antonio. The Project Area began at the Parland Place–Broadway Street intersection and extended east for approximately 2,420 feet (738 meters [m]), intersecting Milton Street and Bellview Street, before terminating at New Braunfels Avenue. Each new main was installed within its own utility easement, parallel to one another within the center and southern street ROWs; however, the new sewer main was only installed within two sections of the Project Area, while the new water main extended the entire length of the Project Area. A preliminary review by the City of San Antonio (COSA) Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) determined that archaeological monitoring was required for the Project Area given that Acequia Madre de Valero was projected as crossing Parland Place, 500 feet (152 m) east of its intersection with Broadway Street. For archaeological purposes, the initial APE consisted of a 300 foot (91 m) section of the proposed alignment, beginning 330 feet (101 m) east of Broadway Street. However, monitoring investigations were extended 50 feet (15 m) to the west in order to investigate a grassy ditch that was observed within the Project Area. The total area monitored for the project included a 350-foot APE, or 0.03-acres of disturbance for both water and sewer main installations. The project was located on lands controlled by the COSA, a political subdivision of the State of Texas. As such, the project is subject to review under the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code (UDC) (Chapter 35 Article VI), as well as the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT; Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). Steve Tomka served as the Principal Investigator and all work was conducted under the Texas Antiquities Committee (TAC) Permit No. 8371. Rhiana D. Ward served as Project Archaeologist, and fieldwork was conducted by Chris Matthews, Rhiana D. Ward, and Jason Whitaker. In August-October 2018, RKEI conducted cultural resources monitoring for the SAWS Parland Place Water and Sewer Main Installation Project. No cultural deposits or features of any temporal affiliation were observed during project excavations; however, field observations of the general Project Area identified a grassy ditch to the northwest of the APE, within an empty residential lot. The ditch measured between 6.5 to 8 feet (2 and 2.5 m) wide, approximately 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) deep, and projected at a 186-degree orientation. It is possible that the grassy ditch to the north of the Project Area is a remnant of the acequia, however, any subsurface evidence of the channel had been destroyed during the installation/construction of a 33 foot-long concrete utility observed during water main excavations. The ditch was photo documented, but because the private lot was located beyond the project boundary, no subsurface investigations could be conducted to verify the nature of the ditch. Overall, no cultural deposits or features of any temporal affiliation were observed during the excavations of the SAWS Parland Place Water and Sewer Main Installation Project. As such RKEI does not recommend any further archaeological investigations within the areas monitored. However, should additional excavations in the APE occur, further work may be required. All field records and photographs will be curated at the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research

The Petrographic Analysis of Sherds from the Musgano Site (41RK19), Rusk County, Texas

Characterizing the mineralogical composition of ceramic vessels and sherds from Caddo sites in East Texas by means of petrographic analysis provides a unique opportunity to gather and investigate empirical evidence from ceramic vessels on: (1) technological and manufacturing practices, and (2) their trade and exchange at varying scales conducted by ancestral Caddo people with their neighbors, both near and far (i.e., other ancestral Caddo groups as well as non-Caddo communities). This evidence in turn can be used to explore changes in the nature of social and economic relationships between particular Caddo groups and other prehistoric populations. Identified compositional and paste differences that have been recognized between the different wares made by Caddo groups (i.e., plain wares, utility wares, and fine wares) can also be employed to explore functional and technological differences in vessel function and form. It is important to build on existing petrographic studies of Caddo vessels and vessel sherds by examining unstudied assemblages to (1) better clarify the compositional nature of these ceramic wares across the Caddo temporal and geographic landscape; (2) to help pinpoint other ceramic manufacturing locales and mineralogical compositional groups, but also to assess their apparent technological complexity; and (3) lead to better evaluations of the regional character of prehistoric and historic Caddo trade and interaction networks that existed, and more definitively establish whether there were changes through time in the direction and intensity of local and long distance trade and interaction. The disparate pieces of information contained within the sherds and vessel fragments of Caddo ceramics found on many prehistoric and early historic sites throughout the region have the potential to address these questions and research issues, and can contribute unique information concerning those relationships that existed in the distant (and not-so-distant) past between Caddo farmers. Twenty decorated sherds from the Musgano ceramic assemblage curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin (TARL) were selected for petrographic analysis. The sherds were split and one of the remaining fragments of each pair was used for the production of thin sections. Originally, the other half of each sherd was to be submitted for instrumental neutron activation analysis, but such analyses were not done; the remaining sherd fragment was returned for continued curation at TARL. Upon the receipt of the thin sections, they underwent petrographic analysis as reported on herein. The 20 sherds include sherds from engraved fine wares (n=8, 40 percent)—bottles and carinated bowls— as well as sherds from utility wares (n=12, 60 percent). The utility wares have brushed-appliqued, incised, incised-punctated (from Maydelle Incised, Weches Fingernail Impressed, and Washington Square Paneled vessels), and punctated decorative elements. Ten percent of the sherds are from bone-tempered vessels, based on macroscopic examination, while the others are from grog-tempered vessels

Archaeological Investigations of Rainwater Catchment Basins along the South Wall of Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas

In February and early March 1998, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio, conducted excavations outside the south wall and in the general vicinity of the southeast gate of Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo (41BX3) for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park of the National Park Service (NPS). The site is located ca. seven miles south of downtown San Antonio on a high terrace overlooking the west bank of the San Antonio River. The general purpose of the excavations was to determine the nature and content of the subsurface deposits in advance of the excavation of three drainage basins and connecting drain pipes under the three eastern-most canales adjacent the southeast gate. Specifically, the excavations had three goals: 1) identify any architectural features that may have originally been outside of the mission walls; 2) better define the stratigraphy of the cultural materials in the area; and 3) recover intact colonial period materials that might otherwise be lost. The excavations showed that: 1) large quantities of bones are present along the 102-ft-Iong portion of the wall; 2) much of the cultural material-bearing matrix found above the sterile Houston Black Clay has been stripped away along the planned route of the main drainage line; and 3) a thick caliche layer located in the westernmost catch basin may cap deeper deposits containing primarily Goliad wares. In addition, the excavations revealed two features, a historic period brazier and two intersecting hearths. We recommend that all work associated with the construction of the three catch basins and connecting pipes proceed as planned

Archaeological Monitoring of the Caldwell County Courthouse Rehabilitation, Lockhart, Texas

In February 1999, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) entered into a contract with American Restoration of New Braunfels, Texas, to monitor utility trenches being excavated on the grounds of the Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart, Texas, under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2117. The utilities were installed in connection with the exterior rehabilitation being conducted by the firm of Ford, Powell, and Carson, Architects. Five visits to the project between February and October of 1999 involved monitoring of mechanical trench excavations, selective screening of trenching backdirt, and surface collections. Monitoring of excavations and the inspection of trench profiles and contents have identified substantial disturbances on the courthouse grounds. These disturbances include utility line trenching associated with previous installations of water, sewer and electric lines, and grade modifications and introduced fill associated with landscaping. Selective screening and surface collections yielded artifacts relating to the construction and use of the three successive courthouses that have existed on the site. However, these artifacts derive from highly disturbed contexts and lack associational integrity. No traces of the foundations of the two previous courthouses were encountered during the trenching

Mission San Jose Indian Quarters Wall Base Project, Bexar County, Texas: With Appendixes on the Monitoring of the San Jose Bus Drive and Granary Parking Lot, and on the Monitoring and Shovel Testing of the San Jose Service Drive

In June and September 1997, the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, conducted test excavations outside the walls and inside selected rooms of the restored Indian Quarters of Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (41BX3) for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park of the National Park Service (NPS). The site is located ca. seven miles south of downtown San Antonio on a high terrace overlooking the west bank of the San Antonio River. The purpose of the excavations was to expose the foundations of these rooms in advance of a project to reinforce the southeast section of the Indian Quarters and to expose the wall bases in selected areas throughout the compound where mortar is deteriorating. The walls with deteriorating mortar are to be repointed as part of an NPS restoration project. The walls in question had all been reconstructed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA) in the 1930s under the direction of architect Harvey P. Smith, Sr. The excavations showed that the sandstone CWA foundations were set on the original limestone Colonial foundations. It was possible to differentiate between the two by the constituent rocks and mortar used in their construction. The results of the excavations also indicate that: 1) wall base mortar-loss is present only at the ground surface; 2) vertical wall cracks may be due to lack of underlying foundation (i.e., west cross wall of Southeast gate) or structural weaknesses in the Colonial foundation; 3) on the inside of the mission compound and outside of its walls, the upper 12 inches of deposit consists of severely mixed materials dating from the eighteenth through twentieth centuries; 4) deposits lying below 18 inches in depth contain less disturbed Colonial period materials; 5) within the Indian Quarter rooms, deposits found within three feet of the walls are severely disturbed to a depth of 18 inches; 6) less disturbed materials are encountered below a depth of 24 inches. Three recommendations are made concerning the proposed underpinning and repointing projects. First, outside of the Indian Quarters, deposits found below 12 inches in depth should be excavated by trained archaeologists. Second, within Room LXXIV of the Indian Quarters, deposits found below 18 inches in depth, in units found along the walls, should be excavated by professional archaeologists. Due to their disturbed character and limited interpretive potential, deposits lying above these depths within both contexts can be excavated by untrained personnel. Third, because the portion of the walls requiring repointing is above or at present ground surface and the upper 12 inches of deposits are disturbed, a trained archaeologist should only spot monitor any excavations (which do not exceed 12 inches in depth) associated with the repointing

Evaluating rudimentary prehistoric stone artifacts from the American southwest and Mexico

The goals and background of this study are presented. A sample of rudimentary artifacts, recovered through survey and excavation from contexts in the American Southwest and southern Mexico, were physically examined to verify or reject their assumed validity as tools and their use in agricultural activities. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were undertaken on these often overlooked and misidentified artifacts to ascertain evidence of human manufacture and use-wear. The results of the study indicate the specimens represent three general form categories of tools that have uses related to excavation and earth moving. To augment this evidence, information was gathered regarding find contexts, historic records, and from relevant literature. The geographic find locations and contexts of the artifacts, as well as their temporal placement, and likely group affiliations, are then discussed. Evidence indicates that, although probably used for other purposes, these minimally-retouched, hand-held, digging and earth moving tools were used in the preparation and maintenance of agricultural fields and irrigation canals, and functioned to support the subsistence system from ca. 400-1450 CE. These implements evidently also held social and ceremonial values and functions. The rudimentary nature of these tools is often found not to be commensurate with the sophisticated complexity of the associated agricultural infrastructure. Initial, very tentative, hypotheses are presented for this incongruity

Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Medina River Park, Bexar County, Texas

From July to August 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed 363-acre Medina River Park located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The 100 percent pedestrian survey was performed for Carter & Burgess, Inc. on behalf of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. The proposed park will consist of several hike and bike trails, roads, and parking facilities. CAR staff revisited eight previously recorded sites, all of which were originally recorded between 1981 and 1984 during the Applewhite Reservoir survey (41BX346 [A & B], 41BX347, 41BX348, 41BX350, 41BX519, 41BX675 [Thompson Cemetery], 41BX837, and 41BX857 [Palo Alto Crossing]). During the 2003 survey, four new sites were recorded by CAR (41BX1577, 41BX1578, 41BX1579, and 41BX1580). One of the sites (41BX675) was determined to be eligible or potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. Site 41BX675 is the location of a cemetery identified during previous archaeological work, though no surface indications of graves were noted during the current survey. The National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility of site 41BX1577 remains unknown. CAR recommends the avoidance of disturbances to both sites. No further eligibility-related work is recommended on the remaining 10 sites. Nonetheless, given that some of the sites possessing high archaeological visibility may be subject to secondary impacts once the park is opened, a program of site management is proposed including systematic surface collections and the monitoring of collection and erosion impacts to surface-exposed archaeological materials. All artifacts collected during these investigations are curated at the CAR facility according to Texas Historical Commission guidelines. These investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3163, with Dr. Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator

Archaeological Monitoring of the Demolition of a Historic Cistern Unassociated with the Stegman Building, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas

Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI) was contracted by Muñoz & Company (CLIENT) to conduct archaeological monitoring association with the proposed partial demolition of a historic cistern located within the footprint but under the floor of the historic Stegman Building, in Brownsville’s Historic Downtown District, Cameron County, Texas. The monitoring was requested by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and was initiated by the fact that the age of the cistern feature and its association with the Stegman Building was not clearly known. The Stegman Building, the Area of Potential Effect (APE), is located at the intersection of East 11th Street and East Washington Streets, in downtown Brownsville. Figure 1 depicts the APE on the East Brownsville (2597-433) USGS 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Map. The Stegman Building was erected in 1912 and is named for Baldwin G. Stegman, who came to Brownsville in 1905 and was an investor in the city’s first streetcar line. Plans call for the School of Music of the University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley to move its music academy into the renovated building. The cistern was uncovered during on-going rehabilitation of the building and while it was suspected that the feature was not functionally related to the Stegman Building this was not established with certainly prior to the need to partially demolish the feature. Since the Stegman Building is a historic property, therefore, the archaeological monitoring and related services were requested by the THC to document the construction methods and morphology of the feature and collect temporally diagnostic artifacts that may document the age of the feature. In addition, archival research was to also be carried out to compile additional information related to the approximate year of construction of the cistern and its relationship to homesteads that stood nearby