Article Title

Seven Archeological Surveys CSJs 0440-04-014, 1200-03-048, 0914-19-030, 0914-19-015, 0914-19-022, And 0914-26-006: RM 243, FM 973, CR 142, CR 119, and Spring Street: Burnet, Gillespie, Mason, And Travis Counties, Austin District

Authors

Damon A. Burden
Karl W. Kibler
Ross C. Fields

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

Personnel with Prewitt and Associates, Inc., completed seven archeological surveys in 2013 for the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Environmental Affairs Division in TxDOT’s Austin District under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6541. The surveys were done to identify archeological sites that could be affected by bridge and road construction at the following six locations: Ranch-to-Market Road 243 at Bear Creek in Burnet County (CSJ 0440-04-014), Farm-to-Market Road 973 at the Colorado River in Travis County (CSJ 1200-03-048), County Road 142 at Palo Alto Creek (two locations) in Gillespie County (CSJs 0914-19-030 and 015), County Road 119 at the Pedernales River in Gillespie County (CSJ 0914-19-022), and Spring Street at Comanche Creek in Mason County (CSJ 0914-26-006). Two phases of survey were done in the Mason County project area.

Fieldwork was performed by a team of one to three archeologists, with Damon Burden serving as project archeologist and Karl Kibler, Eloise Gadus, Aaron Norment, or John Dockall assisting as field archeologist or geoarcheologist. Ross C. Fields served as principal investigator. The surveys were done over about 30 work days (60 person days) in May–June and August– October 2013. Five of the locations have small horizontal Areas of Potential Effects, ranging from 0.6 to 3.3 acres and totaling 7.2 acres. The sixth, FM 973 at the Colorado River, is much larger at 43.9 acres. In addition to surface inspection, the surveys involved excavation of 34 backhoe trenches at all six locations and 46 shovel tests at five of them. In addition, 5 hand-dug test units were excavated at the Mason County location.

Survey determined that three of the locations—RM 243 at Bear Creek, FM 973 at the Colorado River, and County Road 142 at Palo Alto Creek Location #2—do not contain archeological sites that could be impacted by the proposed projects. Two others—County Road 142 at Palo Alto Creek Location #1 and County Road 119 at the Pedernales River—were found to contain archeological sites (41GL476 and 41GL475, respectively), but the portions within the project areas have no capacity to contribute important information and thus are considered ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designation as State Antiquities Landmarks. In contrast, 41MS99 found in the Spring Street at Comanche Creek project area is eligible for listing and designation.

Artifacts were collected only during the two phases of survey in the Mason County project area; they will be curated, along with artifacts recovered during subsequent data recovery excavations at 41MS99, at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory of the University of Texas at Austin. This also is the repository for all the records resulting from these surveys.

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