Assessment Of Archaeological Sites 41WB160 And 41WB358 In The Row Of The Proposed 24-Inch Water Transmission Line Laredo, Webb County, Texas

Intensive pedestrian survey approximately 1,000 linear feet in the vicinity of 41WB160 and 2,000 linear feet in the vicinity of 41WB358 was conducted on behalf of the City of Laredo Utilities Department in advance of the installation of a 24-inch water transmission line. Funds for the project are from the Texas Water Development Board, and Terracon is preparing an Environmental Information Document in support of the project. Accordingly, the archaeological survey and assessment was carried out in coordination with the Texas Historical Commission and under Antiquities Permit Number 7214, issued to David Yelacic. Pedestrian survey and four shovel test excavations at each of the locations elucidated disturbances of the landscape. No cultural materials were observed on the surface or in shovel tests in proximity to 41WB160. A single chert flake observed on the surface at the boundary of 41WB358 weakly confirmed the presence of the site within its mapped boundaries, but much of the landscape in the area was clearly altered in relatively recent times. We therefore conclude that the portions of 41WB160 and 41WB358 within the current APE have been compromised by relatively recent activities. As such, we recommend that 41WB160 and 41WB358 should not be considered eligible for NRHP listing within the APE and that the proposed project be granted permission to proceed as planned

Systematic Intensive Pedestrian Survey Of The Helotes Hike-Bike Trail Helotes, Bexar County, Texas

As a result of a City of Helotes undertaking funded by TxDOT, an intensive pedestrian survey was carried across approximately seven total acres of trail and park space, as well as a pedestrian bridge, improvements to the parking and sidewalk space (i.e., benches and trashcans) along Riggs Road, and pedestrian crossing at Scenic Loop Road and Highway 16. Work was carried out in coordination with TxDOT and the THC under Antiquities Permit Number 7512, issued to David Yelacic, RPA, and fieldwork was conducted in late December 2015 by Yelacic with assistance from Tanner Jason, field scientist. Overall, systematic pedestrian survey and 10 total shovel test excavations failed to encounter any historic or prehistoric cultural materials and revealed that much of the APE was previously impacted by land use and considerable flooding in the recent past. Given our negative findings, it is Terracon’s opinion that no archaeological resources would be effected by the proposed undertaking. We therefore recommend that the project be permitted to proceed as planned without further considerations of archaeological resources. If archaeological resources are encountered during the course of construction, however, then work should cease immediately and Terracon archaeologists and proper authorities (i.e., THC and TxDOT) should be contacted as quickly as reasonably possible

Backhoe Trenching In The Proposed Center Street Expansion Right-Of-Way Pasadena, Harris County, Texas

Harris County plans to extend Center Street from its current position just south of the intersection at Fairmont Parkway to residential area across Armand Bayou. As a result of public funding and property involved with the proposed project, an intensive pedestrian survey of the proposed linear right-of-way was conducted to complete permitting requirements of the Antiquities Code of Texas, enforced by the Texas Historical Commission. The survey was performed under Antiquities Permit Number 7067, issued to David M. Yelacic, who also carried out fieldwork and subsequent reporting. A total of four trenches, two on either side of Armand Bayou, were excavated by backhoe, and each was devoid of cultural material. The remainder of the APE was systematically surveyed for any surface expressions of cultural resources, but none were observed. Review of historical aerial imagery and maps also yield no evidence of historic properties within the APE in the last 70 years. As a result of negative findings, Terracon recommends that the project proceed with no further investigations of cultural resources

Intensive Archaeological Survey of CPS Energy Headquarters Parking Lot Improvements San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Terracon archaeologists carried out a modified intensive survey consisting of backhoe trench excavations on behalf of City Public Service (CPS) in northern Downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. At this location, CPS plans to construct a multi-level parking garage and renovate existing buildings. As CPS is a publicly owned utility company, ground disturbing work on the property is under the purview of the Antiquities Code of Texas. Accordingly, archaeological investigations were performed under Antiquities Permit No. 7859, issued to David Yelacic. Five total backhoe trenches revealed a variety of deposits and materials, including remnants of past built environments, some of which were pushed into the former channel of the San Antonio River, as well as a light scatter of prehistoric materials. These historic and prehistoric materials were recorded as a historic urban palimpsest situated atop a prehistoric scatter. The archaeological site was designated 41BX2169. The site is presently a parking lot and has been for at least 25 years. The historic portion of the archaeological site represents the past built environment, which includes a former location of the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Antonio. The Church sold the property to the developer of the parking lot and existing buildings and since moved on to another location, and the former location is properly honored by a subject marker at approximately 607 Avenue B. Given the lack of architecture and the loss of integrity of the church’s sacred space, and given the relative lack of paucity of prehistoric artifacts and features, it is Terracon’s opinion that site 41BX2169 would not meet criteria or have the integrity for listing on the National Register of Historic Places nor for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. Terracon recommends that the overall project should not disturb the subject marker representing the former church. It is also Terracon’s recommendation that the project be allowed to proceed as planned without further consideration of archaeological resources

Cultural Resources Monitoring: Archaeological Montioring Of Hand Excavated Trenches San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

To assist and support the installation of fiber-optic cable in the particularly sensitive and historic Downtown San Antonio, Texas, Terracon carried out archaeological monitoring of two small, hand-excavated trenches in City of San Antonio sidewalk easements. The undertaking is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas and oversight from the Texas Historical Commission. Archaeological monitoring was carried out by David Yelacic, Principal Investigator, under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 7203. Through the course of monitored excavation, very few cultural materials were encountered, and these materials (i.e., clear glass fragment, brown bottle glass fragment, wood, and rusted metal) were not associated with features or historic-age sites. Additionally, profile exposures showed extensive disturbance in both trenches. Given our overall negative findings through monitoring, Terracon did not delay installation of the cables. It is our opinion that no historic properties or significant cultural resources were affected by the undertaking

Intensive Archeological Survey Of Allen Campus City Of Allen, Collin County, Texas

Collin College has proposed the Allen Campus project where campus facilities will be constructed in northwest Allen, Collin County, Texas. Collin College retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to conduct a systematic, intensive pedestrian survey of the approximately 32-acre project area. Because Collin College, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, sponsored the project, the proposed undertaking is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas and oversight from the Texas Historical Commission. In addition, the survey meets the standards for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, should a US Army Corps of Engineers permit be required for the project. The cultural resources survey was carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 8130, issued to Ann M. Scott, PhD, RPA, Principal Investigator. Fieldwork was carried out by Dr. Scott, with assistance from Project Geoarcheologist David Yelacic, MS, Project Archeologist Caitlin Gulihur, MA, and Archeological Technician Juan Morlock. Records from the project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University. The 32-acre project area was considered the Area of Potential Effect (APE). Survey of the APE consisted of systematic pedestrian coverage, including discretionary shovel tests. The work was carried out on August 21-22, 2017. Fourteen shovel tests were excavated in areas that had less than 30 percent ground visibility or placed in areas previously undisturbed. No artifacts were discovered during the excavation of the shovel tests. In addition, six backhoe trenches were excavated in areas with high potential for buried cultural deposits. No cultural materials were observed during the course of backhoe trenching. As a result of the survey, two historic-age sites were recorded, 41COL300 and 41COL301. Site 41COL300 consisted of a historic-age trash midden. Artifacts included metal fragments, tires, and plastic and glass containers; several items, such as children’s toys were from the 1960s and 1970s. Little potential for buried deposits was noted when the site was recorded. Within the current project APE, site 41COL301 consisted of four outbuildings. A collapsed house structure and at least one more outbuilding are located outside of the current project APE. These structures had been noted on historic aerials and topographic maps. No buried deposits were noted at the site. Neither site appears to maintain integrity and substantive research value. Deed and historic research did not link the sites to significant events or individuals. Neither site is recommended as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). Given the absence of eligible historic properties within the APE, it is Terracon’s recommendation that the proposed project be allowed to proceed as currently designed. In the unlikely event that human remains are discovered during construction, construction should cease in the vicinity of the remains and Terracon, the Texas Historical Commission’s Archeology Division, or other proper authorities should be contacted

Intensive Archeological Survey Of The Kegley Road Improvements City Of Temple, Bell County, Texas

The City of Temple has proposed the Kegley Road Improvements project where approximately 11,985 linear feet of Kegley Road, from Charter Oak Drive to Adams Avenue, will be expanded in southwest Temple, Bell County, Texas. The project engineer, Kasberg Patrick and Associates, LP, retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to conduct a systematic, intensive pedestrian survey of the approximately 55-acre project area. Because the City of Temple, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, sponsored the project, the proposed undertaking is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas and oversight from the Texas Historical Commission. In addition, the survey meets the standards for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, should a US Army Corps of Engineers permit be necessary or federal funding be utilized for the project. The cultural resources survey was carried out in advance of ground disturbance under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 7963, issued to Ann M. Scott, PhD, RPA, Principal Investigator. Fieldwork was carried out by Dr. Scott, with assistance from Project Geoarcheologist David Yelacic, MS and Project Archeologist Caitlin Gulihur, MA . Records from the project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University. The 11,985-linear-foot by 200-foot-wide alignment (55 acres) was considered the Area of Potential Effect (APE). Survey of the APE consisted of systematic pedestrian coverage, including discretionary shovel tests, as well as trenching to examine deeply buried soils. The work was carried out of April 13-14, 20, 2017. Several hundred linear feet of the alignment were recently plowed fields with 100 percent visibility. Several more hundred linear feet were heavily disturbed by utilities, a golf course, and the existing Kegley Road. Nine shovel tests were excavated in areas that had less than 30 percent ground visibility or placed in areas previously undisturbed. Two backhoe trenches were excavated. No artifacts were discovered during the excavation of the shovel tests or backhoe trenches. One isolated artifact, a historic ceramic sherd, and one isolated feature, a historic pit, were observed during this survey. No sites were recorded or revisited as a result of the survey. Therefore, there are no historic properties present within the alignment. It is Terracon’s recommendation that there are no historic properties eligible for State Antiquities Landmark designation or National Register for Historic Places inclusion that will be affected by future construction of the Kegley Road expansion. Given the absence of historic properties within the APE, it is Terracon’s recommendation that the proposed project be allowed to proceed as currently designed. In the unlikely event that human remains or intact cultural deposits are discovered during construction, those activities should cease in the vicinity of the remains and Terracon, the Texas Historical Commission’s Archeology Division, or other proper authorities should be contacted

Cultural Resources Survey of Fairfield Lake State Park, Freestone County, Texas

Fairfield Lake State Park occupies 1,460 acres in Freestone County, approximately five miles northeast of Fairfield, Texas. The land was acquired for lease by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) from Texas Utilities in the 1970s. Under provisions of the Texas Antiquities Code, TPWD is responsible for managing any possible cultural resources on park land. In an effort to begin building an inventory of sites, a cultural resource survey of the park was conducted by Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in 1996 under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 1698, granted to Dr. James E. Corbin. The SFA crew that performed the 1996 fieldwork recorded or revisited a total of 34 sites in the park’s 1,460 acres. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this initial assessment was never completed; all of the fieldwork was performed, but analysis, curation, and the completion of the report went unfinished. In 2008, TPWD contracted the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University-San Marcos (CAS) to complete the project. Working under contract with TPWD and the reactivated Permit No. 1698, CAS revisited and reassessed each of the 34 sites, recorded an additional site, completed the report, and finalized the analysis and curation of all documents and artifacts recovered in 1996 and 2008. Fieldwork was performed in June of 2008 by Gregory J. LaBudde, Project Archaeologist, David M. Yelacic, CAS Archaeologist, and Jon C. Lohse, who served as the Principal Investigator for the CAS work

Results of Archaeological Survey and Limited Archival Research of Fairfield Lake State Park, Freestone County, Texas

Following the 2008 reassessment, TPWD contracted CAS to carry out a systematic survey of the 1,460-acre park, excluding previously recorded sites, inundated terrain, and areas of modern disturbance that resulted from park infrastructure developments. The purpose of the survey was to ensure a complete inventory of cultural resources within the park. The effort included pedestrian survey and excavation of 215 shovel tests, as well as archival research to identify historic structures that may have once been present, but that were now razed and that could be considered potential sites. An additional element of this project involved some archival research to determine whether 41FT630, the abandoned cemetery, had ever been platted at the Freestone County Clerk’s office, as required under Chapter 711 of the State of Texas Health and Safety Code. Archival and field work was performed in April and May of 2009 by Julian A. Sitters, Project Archaeologist, Sarah Scogin, CAS Staff Archaeologist, and Jon C. Lohse, who served as Principal Investigator. No new sites were recorded during this project, and CAS found no indication that 41FT630 has ever been platted. Available records indicate that it likely represents a freedmen descendant community cemetery, containing individuals who were probably slaves or immediate descendants of freed slaves. CAS recommends archaeological survey and oral interviews concerning this site before it is legally platted at the County Clerk’s office in Fairfield, Texas

Data Recovery and Analysis at the Texas State University Ticket Kiosk Project, Located at 41HY160, Spring Lake, Hays County, Texas

This report describes the results of data recovery-level archaeological investigations carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 5938 at State Antiquities Landmark 41HY160. The purpose of the project was to offset the impact to cultural deposits at the site stemming from the installation of service utilities for a new restroom facility and ticket kiosk at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, (formerly the River Systems Institute) at Texas State University-San Marcos (TxSt). Sponsored by TxSt, the Center for Archaeological Studies excavated a 1×2 meter unit and monitored construction activities. Resulting cultural materials and other archaeological evidence were analyzed and are discussed in the report