Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Seton Home Campus Expansion, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

During November 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey for a proposed 9.3-acre development at the Seton Home property in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey and the excavation of 24 shovel tests. A portion of previously recorded site 41BX1570 was investigated with six shovel tests, delimiting the southern boundary of the site. Moderate amounts of burned limestone, burned chert, and lithic debitage comprised the prehistoric artifact assemblage. During current and previous investigations, several modern artifacts were encountered with the prehistoric deposits throughout the vertical column to the terminal excavation depth of 70 centimeters below surface. The presence of these modern artifacts, in concert with evidence of significant historic subsurface disturbance, has provided adequate data to determine this site ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. Under the Scope of Work for the current project, archaeological monitoring of a subsurface utility line is specified. Location of the line is proposed at or near the northern property boundary separating Seton Home and St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home. Site 41BX1570 will be bisected by the utility line, regardless of alternative placement in the general vicinity. The excavation of the utility trench and the monitoring of these excavations will occur during the spring of 2004. The results of this monitoring will be reported within a separate letter report. However, this report is produced to summarize the results of the pedestrian survey and serves to provide for clearance of cultural resources only in the remainder of the project area. It is recommended that construction be allowed to proceed outside of the proposed utility corridor

Archaeological Survey of a Portion of the Proposed Castroville Regional Park Improvement and Expansion, City of Castroville, Medina County, Texas

During January 2004, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of a selected portion (300 feet by 7 feet) of the proposed expansion and improvement of Castroville Regional Park in the City of Castroville, Medina County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of the excavation of six shovel tests. A single previously unrecorded prehistoric archaeological site (41ME134) was encountered atop a ridge landform. Abundant amounts of burned rock and lithic debitage, along with several tested cobbles, a few cores, and one non-diagnostic uniface were encountered at ground surface and within the upper 10 cm of shallow soils mantling the landform. Due to the primarily surficial nature of this site and the lack of cultural features, the Center for Archaeological Research recommends that site 41ME134 is ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or for designation as a State Archeological Landmark. It is therefore recommended that the proposed improvements proceed without further cultural resources investigations. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3328 with Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator. Burned rock collected from the site was discarded pursuant to Chapter 26.27(g)(2) of the Texas Administrative Code. All other artifacts collected during the survey are permanently housed at the Center for Archaeological Research curatorial facility

Archaeological Survey for the Proposed St. Peter-St. Joseph Children\u27s Home Expansion, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

During September 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey for the proposed development of 3.17 acres at the St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home in the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of the excavation of 18 shovel tests. A single previously unrecorded prehistoric archaeological site (41BX1570) was encountered atop a terrace along a probable remnant channel of the San Antonio River. Moderate to abundant amounts of burned limestone, burned chert, and lithic debitage, along with two lithic tools comprised the prehistoric artifact assemblage. Four mechanically chipped lithic flakes were encountered with the prehistoric deposits throughout the vertical column to the terminal excavation depth of 70 centimeters below surface. The presence of these modern artifacts in concert with evidence of significant historic subsurface disturbance has provided adequate data to determine this site is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places nor for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. It is therefore recommended that the proposed improvements proceed without further cultural resources investigations. All collected artifacts and records are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research permanent storage facility

National Register Eligibility Testing of Site 41BO184, Brazoria County, Texas

Site 41BO184 is located within the right-of-way for the proposed expansion of State Highway 35 at the Oyster Creek crossing in southern Brazoria County. It was originally recorded as a multicomponent site in 1994 and was the subject of three distinct and limited archeological investigations by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) staff. In 2003, TxDOT contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio to test the National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility of the site. Systematic mechanical auger borings, ten hand-excavated 1-x-1-meter test units, and Gradall scrapings helped identify a very sparse Late Prehistoric, possibly Rockport, component at the site. Although it is possible that at least some of the prehistoric artifacts come from the shell-paved driveway that cross-cut the site, it is also possible that some of the prehistoric artifacts represent in situ finds. The historic component, rich in temporally diagnostic ceramic fragments, dates to the mid-nineteenth century. The lack of intact features, the small size of the artifact assemblage, and the reduced size of the available materials, severely limits the research potential of the site. Therefore, it is recommended that site 41BO184 is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places nor does it warrant designation as a State Archeological Landmark

National Register Eligibility Testing of 41MM340 and 41MM341, along Little River, Milam County, Texas

From January through March 2000, the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing for archaeological sites 41MM340 and 41MM341, under contract with Texas Department of Transportation. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2319. The Phase II testing fieldwork consisted of excavation of 20 test units across both sites to investigate significant cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey phase. Four distinct stratified cultural zones at 41MM340 and at least two cultural zones at 41MM341 were identified during the testing efforts. In concert with the archaeological field investigations, the following special analyses and studies were performed to aid the determination of site integrity and eligibility: geoarchaeology, radiocarbon, lithic, aboriginal ceramic, vertebrate faunal, freshwater mussel shell, macrobotanical, pollen, phytolith, land snail shell, amino acid racemization, and diatom. The synthesis of these analyses has provided adequate data to determine temporal integrity and recommendation of National Register eligibility for both sites. Further cultural resources investigations in the form of Phase III data recovery excavations are thus recommended for both sites prior to development

Intensive Survey and Test Excavations at 41BX1576 A World War II German POW Camp at Camp Bullis Military Reservation, Bexar County, Texas

During November 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological survey and National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility testing of a former World War II German prisoner of war camp (41BX1576) at the United States Army Camp Bullis Military Reservation in Bexar County, Texas. The survey and testing efforts were accompanied by archival research and interviews with a former Camp Bullis German prisoner of war. The field efforts within the 4.66-acre proposed area of development consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey, excavation of 30 shovel tests, and excavation of six 1-x-1-m test units. Five hundred seventy-six artifacts were recovered, revealing both prehistoric and historic components. Two hundred thirty-five of these artifacts, comprised primarily of wire nails, were discarded pursuant to Chapter 26.27(g)(2) of the Texas Administrative Code. The balance of the cultural material (341 artifacts) is permanently housed at the CAR curatorial facility. No significant cultural deposits or features were encountered during excavation. Although foundations of camp support facilities still exist, given the lack of undisturbed features and the mixed nature of the historic and prehistoric components, CAR recommends that this site be considered ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. It is further recommended that the proposed development be allowed to proceed without additional cultural resources investigations

Camp Maxey III Archaeological Testing of 23 Prehistoric Sites, Lamar County, Texas

From August 2000 through January 2001, The Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing for 23 prehistoric archaeological sites (41LR152, 41LR153, 41LR155, 41LR156, 41LR157, 41LR158, 41LR160, 41LR163, 41LR164, 41LR168, 41LR170, 41LR186, 41LR187, 41LR202, 41LR204, 41LR207, 41LR208, 41LR212, 41LR260, 41LR266, 41LR268, 41LR285, and 41LR286) located within the Camp Maxey training facility in north Lamar County, Texas, under contract with Texas Army National Guard. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2180. The Phase II testing fieldwork consisted of excavation of backhoe trenches, shovel tests, and excavation/test units across the sites to investigate significant cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey phases. In concert with the archaeological field investigations, the following special analyses and studies were performed to aid the determination of site integrity and eligibility: geoarchaeology, radiocarbon, lithic, native ceramic, and magnetic sediment susceptibility. The synthesis of these analyses has provided adequate data to determine temporal integrity and recommendation of National Register eligibility for 41LR152, 41LR164, 41LR186, and 41LR187. Further cultural resources investigations in the form of Phase III data recovery excavations are thus recommended for these sites prior to proposed development. Conversely, due to lack of significance criteria: sites 41LR153, 41LR155, 41LR156, 41LR157, 41LR158, 41LR160, 41LR163, 41LR168, 41LR170, 41LR202, 41LR204, 41LR207, 41LR208, 41LR212, 41LR260, 41LR266, 41LR268, 41LR285, and 41LR286 are recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and require no further cultural resource investigations

Archeological and Geoarcheological Survey of State Highway 35 between Angleton and Old Ocean, Brazoria County, Texas

During March through July 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted a cultural resources survey, including geoarcheological studies, along portions of State Highway 35 from Angleton to Old Ocean in Brazoria County, Texas. This survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3091 and was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation, Environmental Affairs Division. During the early phases of the survey, a Historic Context for the project was developed by Hardy-Heck-Moore, Inc. of Austin, Texas. This Historic Context was used to guide the latter phases of the survey, and is reproduced in this document. The project area consisted of a 15-mile-long discontinuous portion of the highway, with variable widths and eight separate detention ponds, varying in area from 2–12 acres each. Nearly 600 auger borings, here substituted for shovel tests, and 176 backhoe trenches were excavated, encountering no significant cultural deposits or features. The artifacts uncovered during these investigations were of recent origin and, therefore, none were collected for analysis and curation. With the exception of testing at site 41BO184, this project completes the cultural resources inventory of the State Highway 35 corridor between Angleton and Old Ocean

The Medio Creek Site (41BX1421): National Register Test Excavations, Bexar County Texas

During April 2001, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing for archeological site 41BX1421, located in southwest Bexar County, Texas, under contract with the Texas Department of Transportation. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2569. The Phase II testing fieldwork consisted of excavation of five test units across the site to investigate cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey phase. A single sheet midden consisting of burned limestone cobbles was encountered across the majority of the site. In concert with the archeological field investigations, the following special analyses and studies were performed to aid the determination of site integrity and eligibility: radiocarbon, lithic, aboriginal ceramic, vertebrate faunal. and magnetic sediment susceptibility. The synthesis of these analyses has provided adequate data to determine 41BX1421 ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It is therefore recommended that the Loop 1604 improvements proceed without further cultural resources investigations

Archeological Data Recovery Excavations along Becerra Creek (41WB556), Webb County, Texas

From June through August 2000, The Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archeological data recovery for prehistoric site 41WB556, under contract with Texas Department of Transportation. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2412. The Phase III data recovery consisted of excavation of 64 1-m2 units across the site in order to investigate significant cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey and testing phases. In concert with the archeological field investigations, the following special analyses and studies were performed to aid the determination of site integrity and chronology: geoarcheology, radiocarbon dating, lithic, lipid residue, vertebrate faunal, carbon/nitrogen isotope, macrobotanical, and magnetic soil susceptibility. The synthesis of these analyses provides substantive insights into the lifeways of the region’s prehistoric hunter-gatherers