Archeological Data Recovery On Three Sites Along The San Antonio River Bexar County, Texas- Volume II: Further Excavations At 41BX256

This report documents the archaeological excavation of a prehistoric, burned wattle and daub domestic structure dating between 4830–5060 BP at site 41BX256, located along the San Antonio River in Bexar County, Texas. The feature is described as a large, U-shaped mass of fired clay measuring about 2 meters (m) in diameter at a depth of 70 centimeters below the modern ground surface (cmbs). It was discovered through remote sensing and was archaeologically tested in 2006 and it was later fully excavated in 2008. Following both of these investigations, the feature was provisionally interpreted as a baked clay cooking feature. Later examination of hundreds of chunks of the baked clay revealed numerous mold impressions of sticks and twigs, leading to the speculation that the feature, since backfilled, might actually be a domestic structure constructed of wattle and daub. To investigate this possibility, archaeologists revisited the site in 2011 and re-excavated the feature and a similar, smaller clay mass located nearby. Additional surrounding units were explored, the features were excavated deeper to 90–110 cmbs, and a trench through the main feature was carefully examined and profiled. The profile exhibits distinct reddening below 70 cmbs in a pattern consistent with the interpretation of the feature as a structure. No post molds were found, but additional features were documented including three burned rock hearths. Additional samples of the baked clay were recovered and were subjected to analyses for possible lipids, starches, phytoliths, and for reconstruction of estimated firing temperatures. Multiple radiocarbon samples confirmed the Middle Archaic date. The newly recovered data support the interpretation that the feature is a burned domestic structure

Archaeological Data Recovery At The Fish Creek Slough Site (41DL436), Dallas County, Texas

The Fish Creek Slough site (41DL436) is a well stratified, multi-component, open campsite situated on an alluvial terrace on the west bank of Fish Creek in Dallas County, Texas. Discovered in 2005, the site contains an abundance of faunal material, charcoal, and burned clay within multiple, discrete stratified zones. The site was evaluated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT ) as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Because the site was within the right-of-way for a planned road and bridge construction project, and as directed by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, TxDOT elected to undertake archaeological data recovery excavations to mitigate adverse effects to the site. In October of 2010, AmaTerra Environmental, Inc. conducted archaeological data recovery excavations at the site under TxDOT contract no. 579-09-SA006. Mechanical stripping was conducted within a 6 x 20-m trench in 3–5-cm cuts down to 200 centimeters below the modern ground surface and exposed 43 burned zones, other features, and artifact concentrations. In addition to 285 cubic meters of soil removed mechanically, an additional 17.75 cubic meters was excavated within 107 hand-dug units. Collected and analyzed items included more than 8,700 faunal specimens, 43 pieces of chipped stone, and 206 fire-cracked rocks. Samples were collected for macrobotanical, magnetic susceptibility, pH, carbon, and malacology, pollen, diatom, phytolith, and ostracod assays and selected specimens of fire-cracked rock were analyzed for the presence of starches and lipids. Thirty-nine radiocarbon dates accepted as valid helped define four discrete occupational components with the earliest occupation probably occurring as early as AD 1025, and the last occupation probably as late as AD 1865. Geoarchaeological analyses show that the stratigraphic sequence accumulated rapidly, separating and preserving the discrete occupations in good context. Analysis of the exceptionally robust and well-preserved faunal assemblage provides evidence for interpretation of change through time in social structure, site spatial occupations, and diet and subsistence. Of special note, within the occupation zones dating to the Protohistoric and Historic periods, metal cut marks on bone suggest an increased reliance on European-introduced technology

Bandelier Archaeological Excavation Project : summer 1989 excavations at Burnt Mesa Pueblo

Includes maps, figures, and photos. Best copy available. Kohler, Timothy A. editor; with contributions by Carlson, Ingrid K. Gray, Michele Linse, Angela Matthews, Meredith Niskanen, Markku Slaughter, Mark Trierweiler, W. NicholasMuseum of Anthropolog

Bandelier archaeological excavation project : summer 1990 excavations at Burnt Mesa Pueblo and Casa del Rito

Includes maps, figures, and photos. Best copy available. Edited by Timothy A. Kohler and Matthew J. Root with contributions by David Albaugh, Michele Gray, Douglas R. Harro, Timothy A. Kohler, Angela R. Linse, Meredith H. Matthews, Michael V. Reilly, Matthew J. Root and W. Nicholas Trierweiler.Museum of Anthropolog