An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Seismic and Pipeline Routes at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, Dimmit and La Salle Counties, Southern Texas

An intensive archaeological survey was conducted along proposed pipelines and seismic lines by personnel from the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, in the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, located in Dimmit and La Salle Counties. Four prehistoric sites were recorded, and a surface collection was made at each site. Due to the lack of diagnostic materials recovered and the sever erosion of the site areas, no further work is recommended for any of these sites

An Intensive Pedestrian Archaeological Survey of the Salado Creek Greenway, Wetmore Avenue to Eisenhauer Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas Phase II: N. E. Loop 410 to Wetmore Avenue

The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an intensive pedestrian archaeological survey of the Salado Creek Greenway project located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas to fulfill contract requirements with Adams Environmental, Inc. of San Antonio. The survey was conducted under the requirements of the City of San Antonio Unified Development Code Chapter 35, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, and the Texas Antiquities Code. The survey was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 4561, with Dr. Raymond Mauldin, CAR Assistant Director, serving as Principal Investigator and Antonia L. Figueroa serving as the Project Archaeologist. The work was conducted in advance of construction of a multi-use greenway trail proposed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Antonio. The project consists of development of a multi-use greenway trail running from Wetmore Avenue to Eisenhauer Road along the Salado Creek channel. The project area was surveyed in two phases with the first phase from N.E. Loop 410 to Eisenhauer Road completed in August 2007 (Munoz 2008) and the second phase from N.E. Loop 410 to Wetmore Avenue completed in February 2008. This report summarizes the results of the fieldwork from Phase II and provides recommendations regarding the management of cultural resources located on the project area. The archaeological investigations conducted by CAR resulted in the identification and recording of three new sites (41BX1764, 41BX1765 and 41BX1766).A portion of site 41BX841 was revisited as part of the pedestrian survey. However, the proposed trail alignment will not impact the site. The CAR recommends that sites 41BX1765 and 41BX1766 are not eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP). Shovel testing at 41BX1764 suggests the site is potentially eligible for the NRHP under criterion D. Because the site is located on the proposed trail alignment, the CAR recommends eligibility testing of the 41BX1764. All materials recovered during the investigations and all project related documents are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research

Archaeological Testing and Monitoring in Connection with a Drainage Project at Mission San Juan Capistrano San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

The purpose of this project was to obtain information to guide planning to alleviate drainage problems within the compound of the mission. Four separate areas were tested. Of these, only one uncovered structural remains that might be impacted by the drainage swales planned to carry rain water through the east and south walls and away from the standing structures. At that location, careful measurement of comparative elevations of ground and top of wall revealed that the planned drainage would be possible without damage to the wall. Subsequent drainage work was monitored by the archaeologists to be sure that no other previously unknown structures would be disturbed

An Archaeological Survey along Leon Creek from Bandera to Babcock Roads, San Antonio, Texas

An archaeological survey was conducted along Leon Creek from Bandera to Babcock roads from July 15 through July 24, and September 14 and 15, 1998, by the Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas at San Antonio, for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. Three newly identified prehistoric sites were documented within the project area. Sites 41BX1301 and 41BX1303 are not recommended as being eligible for State Archaeological Landmark status nor are they recommended as being eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places due to the paucity of materials present and to the secondary context in which they were found. The third site, 41BX1302 is located on a T1 terrace of Leon Creek and represents an intact deposit comprised of at least two components, an upper deposit and a buried component. Looting and erosion are disturbing this site and a course of action is strongly recommended to halt the destruction of 41BX1302. It is recommended that 41BX1302 has the potential for State Archaeological Landmark status and for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and that this site should be avoided during the construction of the Leon Creek Greenway. If complete avoidance of 41BX1302 is not possible, testing for site significance is recommended prior to ground-disturbing activities

1975 Archaeological Investigations at Old Ursuline Academy San Antonio, Texas

Archaeological investigations were conducted at Old Ursuline Academy (41 BX 235), presently the Southwest Craft Center, during the month of October, 1975. This work was necessitated by planned renovations to the dormitory building, one of the complex of nineteenth century buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Figs. 1, 2). The nature of the renovation would consist of excavating below the present floor of the dormitory basement so that air conditioning ducts and blower units might be installed; transformation of this basement from a storage place into a series of functional rooms and galleries; construction of a new entryway into the basement from the south (Figs. 2, 3); and the construction of a French drain along the south side of the dormitory to prevent flooding of the basement area (Fig. 2). Archaeological excavation units were located in those areas to be most severely disturbed by construction activities: two units in the dormitory basement and three units in the courtyard close to the south wall of the dormitory (Fig. 2). Preliminary analysis of the excavation data showed significant parallels with the 1974 Texas Historical Commission investigations (Clark 1974), permitting a clearance letter to be written almost immediately. Subsequent detailed analyses led to the postulation of a number of activity patterns and foci, with the conclusion that the dormitory courtyard portion of the site can provide a degree of scientific and historic data far in excess of the space that it occupies relative to the rest of the site

Excavation of a Portion of the San Pedro Acequia (41BX337) via Metropolitan Transit System Parking Lot, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In October of 1986, representatives of the VIA Metropolitan Transit System contacted the Center for Archaeological Research prior to construction on their bus parking lot that occupies the area above a section of the historic San Pedro Acequia. It was decided at that time that limited testing to define and locate the extent of the acequia remaining and determine if monitoring of further operations should be conducted. The excavations were accomplished in December of 1986 and a profile of the acequia recorded. At that time monitoring was delayed until the anticipated relocation of a fuel storage tank was to be accomplished; subsequent problem with the location of the tank because of environmental considerations delayed the project for a period of time, eventually requiring placement of the storage tank well away from the path of the acequia

Hunters and Gatherers of the Rio Grande Plain and the Lower Coast of Texas

This paper summarizes the prehistoric cultural manifestations found on the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. The primary goal in this paper is to briefly outline the major prehistoric cultural traditions on the Rio Grande Plain. These traditions represent ecological adaptive responses made by the prehistoric inhabitants, and are reflected in the archaeology and ethnology of the area

Ranchers, Farmers, Soldiers, and the CCC: The Background for Seven Historical Sites at Camp Bowie, Brown County, Texas

During the mid-1900s, a cultural resources survey of Camp Bowie was conducted by the Environmental Resources Management Branch of the Adjutant General’s Department of Texas (AGTX-EV) which identified a number of historical sites within the camp’s boundaries. These sites included 41BR227, 41BR438, and 41BR266, all of which are sandstone walls; 41BR270 and 41BR477, both of which contain check dams built to control erosion; 41BR290, the remains of a farmstead; and 41BR299, a bunker dating to the World War II era. In 2001 the Center for Archeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio contracted with AGTX-EV to conduct additional archaeological investigations at Camp Bowie; part of that agreement called for a general investigation of the historical background of the seven sites mentioned above. This archival research was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit no. 2591

Archaeological Survey and Backhoe Testing for Flume No. 3 Right-of-Way at Coleto Creek Reservoir, Goliad County, Texas

During August 1983, archaeological survey and testing were conducted at Flume No.3 for the Coleto Creek power plant reservoir in Goliad County, Texas. The work included survey of the entire Flume No.3 route, testing one site (41 GD 30B) located at the flume outlet on Coleto Creek, survey and testing of an alternate fl ume route downstream, and testi ng at another site designated 41 GD 31. The right-of-way survey revealed a historic site (41 GD 48) in the proposed spoil area; no further work is recommended at this site. Testing at 41 GD 30B provided necessary additional information on the site\u27s area and depth. It was judged that the flume outflow could damage the integrity of the site, and that the site should be avoided or the impact mitigated. Survey and testing of the alternate, downstream flume route indicated this route provides the best alternative for reservoir outflow since no cultural resources were found on the surface and a possible buried component at 41 GD 31 would probably be too deeply buried to be affected

San Saba Mill Pond Park Survey, San Saba County, Texas

The Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, was contracted by L. K. Travis & Associates, Inc., to perform an archival research and field survey of 60 acres under consideration for the expansion of the Mill Pond Park within the City of San Saba. The research and survey were conducted by Research Associate Waynne Cox on April 21, 22 and 23. No evidence of either prehistoric or historic occupation was located within the survey area; however, archival research revealed further information concerning the nature and age of the mill for which the park was named. No further work is recommended on the area designated for expansion, but the nature of the park appears worthy of further research and development