"An Intensive Survey Of 1.9-Acres On The University Of Texas Rio Grande" by Mark P. Luzmoor

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Article Title

An Intensive Survey Of 1.9-Acres On The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas

Authors

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

In January 2015, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville (UTRGVB) (Client) contracted with Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI) to perform an intensive cultural resources survey of approximately 2.5-acres for the proposed construction of a new Academic Educational Building on the UTRGVB Campus, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. A previous survey in 2002 investigated 0.6-acres of the southern portion of the APE reducing the current project area to 1.9-acres. The project is owned by the UTRGVB. Since the project area is currently owned by a political subdivision of the state, the project falls under the Antiquities Code of Texas as administered by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The project is located near the historic site of Fort Brown (41CF96) which is designated as a National Register District.

The purpose of the survey was to determine whether historic or prehistoric cultural resources are located within the Area of Potential Effect (APE), and if so, assess their significance and eligibility for formal designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs) and for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The project was carried out between February 5 and 6, 2015 under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7170. Dr. Steve A. Tomka served as Principal Investigator. Kristi Miller Nichols and Mark Luzmoor served as Co-Project Archaeologist, and they were assisted by Cyndi Dickey during the field work.

Six shovel tests (STs) and two backhoe trenches were excavated within the APE. Surface visibility was around 80% in approximately two-thirds of the APE. Surface visibility was under 5% throughout the rest of the property. No buried or surface-exposed historic or prehistoric materials or features were encountered during the survey. Therefore, our assessment is that the project will not impact significant historic properties and/or cultural deposits. As a result, RKEI suggests that the project may proceed as planned. No cultural materials were encountered during the field work and all project-related documents are permanently housed at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory.