Article Title

Archeological Testing of 41BO185 A Possible Civil War Era Military Camp, West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas

Authors

Diane C. Dismukes

Agency

TxDOT

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21112/ita.2003.1.16

Abstract

In November and December 1999, staff from the TxDOT Archeological Studies Program conducted archeological investigations on a portion of site 41BO 185, a reported possible Civil War-era military encampment, within the boundaries of a proposed widening project on SH 35 in Brazoria County. The archeological investigations consisted of a combination backhoe trenching and hand-dug test units excavated across the portion of the site within the project area to locate and identify features and artifact concentrations. The goal of the testing was to determine the integrity of the portion of the site within the Area of Potential Effect (APE) and to determine whether this portion of the site is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The archeological investigations identified a cistern, a brick scatter that may represent the remains of a collapsed chimney, a fireplace base, post molds, and various artifacts. The features appeared to represent a structure or structures that date to about the period of the Civil War. However, they are more likely related to a domestic structure, rather than a military camp site. The most likely civil war related artifact found during the fieldwork was a fragment of a bayonet. However, no definitive archeological evidence that a Civil War camp site was at this location was found during fieldwork. It is possible that ground disturbing activity, such as sod harvesting, may have erased any trace of the site.

Based on the results of this investigation, the portion of 41BO185 located within the project boundaries will not contribute to the potential NRHP eligibility of the site. No further archeological work is recommended for the portion of the site within the present SH 35 project area.

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.