When do young birds disperse? : Tests from studies of golden eagles in Scotland

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Monitoring of Construction at Site 41BX1199, Government Canyon State Natural Area, Bexar County, Texas

In February 2002, archaeologists from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio monitored the construction of roads and parking lots and the clearing of land on site 41BX1199 in Government Canyon State Natural Area. These roads and parking lots were being built to provide/facilitate access to picnic and tent camping areas planned for when the state natural area becomes a state park. Archaeological monitoring identified no significant archaeological deposits and confirmed the original assessment of the site as having no research potential. The construction activities did not impact any significant intact cultural deposits on site 41BX1199

The Perez Ranch Project Reassessment of Four Archaeological Sites in South-central Bexar County, Texas

In anticipation of planned land developments, NICDAR, Inc. of San Antonio Texas contracted the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio to conduct a reassessment and boundary definition of four archaeological sites, 41BX274, 41BX277, 41BX682, and 41BX988, located on or in the vicinity of the historic Perez Ranch. The archaeological investigations were carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3278 with Dr. Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator. The investigations consisted of a surface survey of all sites, shovel testing and backhoe trenching at 41BX274, the Perez Ranch, shovel testing at 41BX988, the Laborer’s Shack, and limited shovel testing outside the cemetery bounds at 41BX277, the Perez Family Cemetery and Chapel. The Dolores Crossing, 41BX682, a Spanish Colonial period ford of the Medina River was subject to surface survey only. Based on the surface and subsurface distributions of artifacts at 41BX274 41BX277, and 41BX988, new boundaries were defined, staked and recorded at these sites using Global Positioning System units. The size of site 41BX274 has been reduced by splitting it into two sites 41BX274 and 41BX274a. 41BX274a was split from the original site since it is a concentration of cultural materials located some 350 meters southeast of the nearest concentration of cultural materials at 41BX274. This isolated concentration of cultural materials has now been identified as 41BX274a. Based on surface survey and shovel testing, it also was recommended that the boundaries of site 41BX277 be slightly increased to include a light scatter of prehistoric cultural materials found around the cemetery. Furthermore, it was recommended that the site be identified as multicomponent, given the presence of both prehistoric and historic materials within its boundaries. Based on the distribution of cultural materials at 41BX682, the boundaries of the site have been reduced. Finally, no cultural materials have been identified at 41BX988, although the location of the historic crossing coincides with the crossing of the Medina River by Applewhite Road. No cultural material was recovered from sites 41BX277 or 41BX682. Temporally diagnostic artifacts were recovered from the surface of sites 41BX274 and 41BX988. All cultural materials recovered in shovel tests at these two sites have also been retained. All artifacts are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research

Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Lorence Creek Greenbelt, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Under contract with Rehler Vaughn & Koone, Inc. of San Antonio, archaeologists from the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed hikeand-bike trail along the Lorence Creek Greenbelt in San Antonio, Texas. The fieldwork was completed on April 1–2, 2003, under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3085. Steve A. Tomka, Director of CAR, served as Principal Investigator. The goal of the survey was to determine the presence or absence of significant cultural materials in the area that may be impacted by the development of a proposed hike-and-bike trail within the greenbelt. The project area extends from Virgil T. Blossom Park 1.45 miles (2.33 km) along Lorence Creek downstream to within 750 feet of Jones Maltsberger Road. Archaeological investigations involved a 100% pedestrian survey and shovel testing within the project area. The results of the survey indicate that the majority of the area along the footprint of the proposed hike-and-bike trail is disturbed by both natural and anthropogenic agencies. The survey efforts identified and documented one site—41BX1581. The site contains a low density of cultural materials and no features. It is suggested that the site has minimal research potential. Therefore, even though the proposed trail runs along the edge of the site, it is suggested that the minimal construction activities associated with the trail be allowed to proceed as planned. All field documentation and all artifacts collected are permanently curated at CAR

Archaeological Survey and Geoarchaeological Investigations at 41BX1271, Walker Ranch Park, Bexar County, Texas

In January of 2003, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey and geoarchaeological investigations at site 41BX1271 in Walker Ranch Park for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. This work was done in response to the planned installation of security lights around the existing park trail and a drinking fountain along the southwest portion of the trail system. The archaeological investigations were carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3023. Three separate field tasks were carried out in order to perform the required assessment: 1) pedestrian survey of the planned installation area; 2) excavation of 41 shovel tests; and 3) excavation of two geoarchaeological test units. This report details the recovery of prehistoric artifacts as well as recent materials within the geological deposits of the park. Discussion of the park soils and geology in relation to artifacts and human occupation is also provided. The archaeological investigations and artifacts recovered indicate a low density of cultural materials and low research potential for the area impacted by the planned modifications. While the lighting and fountain installations will impact the sparse cultural remains, these resources have low interpretive and scientific value and would not contribute significant new knowledge to existing information on Walker Ranch or the prehistory of the region

Archaeological Services Associated with the Perrin Family Gravesite on Perrin-Beitel Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Under contract with Mr. Harry Affleck of San Antonio, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) performed archaeological services on the property located at 9501/9505 Perrin-Beitel Road in central San Antonio. The property is the site of the Perrin Family Gravesite and will be impacted by the construction of a self-storage unit and associated improvements. Archaeological services were performed between January and March 2003 and involved archival research to compile information on the history of the Perrin Family Gravesite and fieldwork to establish the location of all burials present on site. Archival research resulted in the compilation of a history of use of the Perrin Family Gravesite. Fieldwork consisted of a ground penetrating radar survey, hand excavations, and mechanical scraping. At the inception of fieldwork, nine headstones accounting for ten interments were visible on the surface. However, it was not known how many, if any, of the headstones were in their original resting places. Also, it was suspected that at least one of the headstones had no known associated grave. Fieldwork identified ten graves on the site and documented some degree of displacement of the headstones since their original placement. The known locations of all burial within the Perrin Family Gravesite should provide sufficient information to erect a buffer to protect the interments from impact from construction activities