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Article Title
Agency
Center for Archaeological Research
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21112/ita.1997.1.10
Abstract
In August 1996, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio was contracted by the city of New Braunfels to conduct archaeological investigations prior to planned development of vacant city property. The plan called for the construction of a parking lot in close proximity to site 41 CM25, an Archaic-period cemetery. The investigation was to determine whether the proposed construction would impact site 41CM25 or other prehistoric and/or historic features. CAR staff conducted a pedestrian survey of the project area, shovel tested in the footprint of the proposed parking lot, and monitored tree stump removals and subsurface grading necessary for the parking lot construction. In addition, two backhoe trenches were excavated and one geological profile was described.
The testing and monitoring uncovered various prehistoric and historic artifacts in good archaeological and geological contexts. Most of the artifacts were prehistoric and included chert flakes, cores, mussel shell, and fire-cracked rock. One diagnostic artifact-a Pedemales point-was uncovered, tentatively assigning the site to the Middle Archaic period. The results of the geological profile, in conjunction with background research, suggest that the project area is located on the edge of a distinctive geological zone in which the burial site of 41CM25 is located.
The testing and monitoring concluded that numerous buried cultural deposits are located in the project area and that the presence of buried cultural features is also highly probable. However, due to the relatively shallow depth required for the footings of the parking lot, these deposits and features will not be significantly impacted by the construction process. In addition, the close proximity of the project area to the existing site 41CM25, combined with the geological evidence, suggests that this area is one contiguous site. Therefore, we recommend that the boundaries of site 41CM25 be extended to include the project area and that any future development of 41CM25 and/or the project area be closely monitored and evaluated by archaeologists.
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