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Authors

Alan J. Wormser

Agency

TxDOT

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21112/ita.1987.1.21

Abstract

Test excavations were conducted at Site 41FY111 by Alan J. Wormser of the cultural resources staff at the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SDHPT). The excavation was completed between March 30, and April 2, 1987, as part of a bypass project along SH 71 north of La Grange, Fayette County, Texas. Although the prehistoric remains were scattered over a broad area, most of the site was concentrated on top of knoll of cherty gravel deposits. Sixteen 1 X 1 meter test units were excavated to depths of between 10 and 50 cm below the surface. This resulted in the recovery of 3474 pieces of chipped lithic debris, 9 cores, 8 tested cobbles (cobbles with minimal flake removal), and 2872 fragments of burned rock. There were also 2 projectile points, 1 gouge, 3 other bifaces, 4 modified flakes, and 1 cut nail. Only one of the items, a Pedernales dart point, was diagnostic of any particular time period (ca. 2000 B.C. to A.D. 1). Most of the cultural material was concentrated within the upper 20 cm of deposits. No cultural features were found and the field containing the site appeared to have been terraced to control erosion. The site was used prehistorically as a source of chert. Major activities at the site included primary reduction of chert, and heating of rock for cooking. Due to the superficial nature of the deposits, lack of features, probable disturbance by artificial terracing, and the ubiquitous nature of similar quarry/workshop sites within the region, 41FY111 is not considered to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, and does not warrant designation as a State Historic Landmark.

Licensing Statement

This is a work produced for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) by the report producer. TxDOT and the report producer jointly own all rights, title, and interest in and to all intellectual property developed under TxDOT’s contract with the report producer. The report may be cited and brief passages from this publication may be reproduced without permission provided that credit is given to both TxDOT and the report producer. Permission to reprint an entire chapter, section, figures or tables must be obtained in advance from either the Supervisor of the Archeological Studies Branch, Environmental Affairs Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 or from the report producer.

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