An Initial Archaeological and Historical Assessment of Three Proposed Dam Sites in Gonzales and Kendall Counties, Texas (original) (raw)

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

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This report presents an archaeological and historical assessment of three proposed dam sites in Gonzales and Kendall Counties, Texas, primarily focusing on the potential archaeological resources affected by these developments. Initial field inspections were conducted to evaluate the areas, during which five prehistoric archaeological sites were documented, revealing significant lithic workshops and artifacts indicative of historical human activity in the region. The findings underscore the need for more comprehensive surveys to mitigate the anticipated destruction of archaeological findings due to dam constructions.

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Archaeological Investigations of the Alamo Dam and Upper Labor Dam

Archaeological Investigations of the Alamo Dam and Upper Labor Dam, Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, 2017

From February 2013 to November of 2014, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological monitoring and test excavations within the boundaries of Brackenridge Park, 4.8 km north of downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project was contracted by Ford, Powell and Carson, Architects and Planners, Inc. (FPC), under contract with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), in advance of planned park improvements along the east and west banks of the San Antonio River. These improvements consisted of pathways, lighting, and interpretive features. Brackenridge Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) with numerous contributing resources including historic buildings, cultural properties, and prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. In addition, Brackenridge Park is a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The park is owned by the City of San Antonio and additionally is a part of the City of San Antonio’s (COSA) San Antonio River Improvement Overlay (SA-RIO). Improvements within the boundaries of the SA-RIO are subject to review by the City’s Historic and Design Commission. The COSA is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas. Both the Texas Antiquities Code and Chapter 35 of the Local Government Code of the City of San Antonio require coordination with the City’s Office of Historic Preservation and both the Texas Historical Commission Division of Archeology and Division of Architecture. CAR conducted these investigations under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 6449. Dr. Steve A. Tomka served as the Principal Investigator for the majority of the fieldwork. Following Dr. Tomka’s departure from UTSA early in 2014, Dr. Raymond P. Mauldin became Principal Investigator. Charles Stephen Smith served as Project Archaeologist for the field portion of the excavations, initial analysis, and production of several interim field reports. Clinton M. M. McKenzie served as Project Archaeologist for the final analysis, description of materials collected, and assembly of the final report. Excavations documented the remains of both of the Spanish Colonial dams. CAR staff identified several buried twentieth-century walls in APE 1 and APE 2. Within APE 1, CAR identified a remaining portion of the Spanish Colonial Alamo Dam. Within APE 2, CAR identified architectural components related to improvements made to the Upper Labor Dam and related Headworks during the Civil War by the Confederate States of America (CSA). The work within APE 2 demonstrates that, despite numerous late nineteenth- and twentieth-century impacts, there are substantial remains of the Spanish Colonial and Civil War dam complex that warrant protection and further investigation. CAR recommends that prior to any impacts within either APE additional work should be undertaken on these features. In communications delivered in December 2016, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation concurred with these recommendations. Artifacts and records generated during this project were prepared for curation according to THC guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR at UTSA.

Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Lake Leon Dam Improvements Project

2017

Eastland County Water Supply District has contracted with HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to conduct an intensive archaeological survey in advance of the proposed improvements to the Lake Leon Dam in Eastland County, Texas (Figure 1). The Area of Potential Effects (APE) includes an approximately 6-acre emergency spillway area located east of Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 2461, approximately 400 feet (ft; 122 meters [m]) south of its intersection with County Road (CR) 569, in Eastland County, Texas. Correspondence with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) recommended that a survey be conducted within the emergency spillway area on the east side of FM 2461, but no survey was recommended for the proposed dam slope improvements (Osburn 2016). This project is being funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The use of federal funding for the project requires that the project comply with the regulations set forth in Section 10...

Excavations for the Upper Labor Dam Site, Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State, 1999

Upon notification, in 1995, that a portion of a Spanish Colonial acequia had been exposed in Brackenridge Park, the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Antonio entered into a contract with the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of the University of Texas at San Antonio to investigate and document the structure. In September of 1996, a team from CAR, utilizing a backhoe and operator provided by Parks and Recreation, began a limited investigation of the structure. The structure proved to be the dam for the Upper Labor and displayed two distinct construction periods, Spanish Colonial and post-1860. It was further documented that the structure acted as a diversion device rather than a full empoundment structure.

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