Article Title

Intensive Archaeological Survey Investigations of a Proposed 125-Acre Lakewood Community Park for the City of Leander, Williamson County, Texas

Authors

Dedra A. Black
James W. Karbula

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

Report Title: Intensive Archaeological Survey Investigations of a Proposed 125-Acre Lakewood Community Park for the City of Leander, Williamson County, Texas

Report Date: August 2015

Report Number: WSA Technical Report No. 2015-21

Agency: none

Permit Number: Texas Antiquities Code Permit 7296

Project Description: WSA, Inc. (WSA) conducted a 100% pedestrian archaeological survey with shovel testing for the proposed City of Leander, Lakewood Community Park in Williamson County, Texas. The project is sponsored by the City of Leander Parks and Recreation Department and owned by the City of Leander and the investigations are subject to the Texas Antiquities Code (TAC) and TAC permitting. The project was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit 7296. A total of 27 pedestrian transects were surveyed at 30 m intervals, and two additional transects were conducted parallel to the shoreline. A total of 40 negative shovel tests were excavated in compliance with the THC minimum survey standards for acreage based projects. One prehistoric lithic scatter archaeological site was identified during the investigations (41WM1308). The site consists of a low density, displaced area of tested chert cobbles and flakes confined to the ground surface. No subsurface artifacts were present and no artifacts were collected. No other cultural resources were observed or identified in the project area. Previously recorded prehistoric archaeological site 41WM1159 overlaps the eastern border of the proposed project. The site was not revisited due to the construction of a bermed earthen dam and gravel road in the site area and inundation. This site was previously recorded as a surficial lithic scatter with no observed features and recommended as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP or as a SAL.

Acres Surveyed: 125

Project Number: WSA 2015-27

Project Location: City of Leander, Williamson County, Texas

Unevaluated Properties: 0

NRHP Eligible Properties: 0

NRHP Ineligible Properties: 1 (41WM1308)

NRHP Listed Properties: 0

Isolated Occurrences: 0

Total Project Resources: 1

Recommendations: Site 41WM1308 is recommended as not eligible as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) nor as eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). WSA requests THC concurrence that site 41WM1308 is not SAL or NRHP eligible and that the site does not warrant any further archaeological investigations. WSA concludes that there exists a low probability that cultural resources eligible for SAL or NRHP listing exist on the surveyed property based on pedestrian survey and negative shovel testing. WSA respectfully requests THC concurrence with the conclusion that there exists a low probability that significant NRHP- or SAL-eligible cultural resources will be impacted by the proposed project. WSA recommends and respectfully requests THC concurrence that with regards to SALs, project construction within the areas of proposed ground disturbance be allowed to proceed under the TAC, and that all TAC permit consultation for the proposed project be considered concluded and complete. All project records will be submitted for professional curation and permanently housed at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory (TARL) of the University of Texas at Austin, in partial completion of TAC Permit 7296.

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