"Terrace at Pecan Grove 22 Acre Development Project Fort Bend County, T" by Sergio A. Iruegas and Melinda Tate Iruegas

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Article Title

Terrace at Pecan Grove 22 Acre Development Project Fort Bend County, Texas

Authors

Sergio A. Iruegas
Melinda Tate Iruegas

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

GTI Environmental, LLC (GTI) conducted an intensive archeology survey and burial assessment within the Terrace at Pecan Grove 22 acre development project (Project). The Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District controls an easement within the 22 acre project area. The Project Sponsor is complying with the Antiquities Code of Texas (13TAC26). In the event this project is considered later as a federal undertaking, this report incorporates language of the National Historic Preservation Act (36CFR800) to facilitate federal agency consultation and determinations of effect. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recommended consultation with its Historic Cemetery Preservation Coordinator. The Project Sponsor consulted with the Fort Bend County Historical Commission. The 22 acres constitutes the Project’s direct Area of Potential Effect (APE). GTI’s Principal Investigator, Sergio A. Iruegas, RPA, and Project Archaeologist, Melinda T. Iruegas, conducted the intensive archaeological survey on March 30, 2015 in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) Minimum Archaeological Survey Standards for Texas (shovel testing). The THC issued Antiquities Permit 7231 for these intensive archaeological investigations on March 30, 2015. In general, the Project’s direct APE had less than 30 percent ground surface visibility. The intensive archaeological investigation included a total of 13 shovel tests spaced evenly across the entire 22 acre Project direct APE. The Antiquities Permit application scope of work approved by THC included a 12m x 12m meter mechanical scraping area to determine the presence or absence of burial shafts for a possible cemetery location. D.D. Haven Jr filed an affidavit (Notice of the Existence of a Cemetery) at the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office on March 23, 2015 indicating possible evidence of the existence of a cemetery within the Project direct APE. The affidavit indicated the cemetery had a 10 foot by 15 foot area surrounded by a 3 foot high wrought iron fence and up to six possible burials and monuments. The Fort Bend County Historical Commission provided a 1968 aerial with the location of a possible fence alignment. GTI proposed the use of metal detecting sweep in the possible cemetery area to locate the possible wrought iron fence component. A total of six metal detecting targets (MDT) were located in the possible cemetery area spaced over a wide area. GTI’s PI noted the MDT were not close together or in alignment of a possible wrought iron fence. GTI amended the mechanical scraping to a 21m x 38m area based on the MDT locations. While there was no evidence of wrought iron fence parts, monument fragments, or burial shafts in the locations of the MDTs, GTI archaeologists did note the presence of limited concrete fragments, wooden post fragments, fire pit areas, old tire and brick fragments throughout the mechanical scrap area. The 1972 aerial shows the presence of a homestead in the general area of the possible cemetery location. There was no evidence of modern or historic glass or ceramics or prehistoric artifacts or articulated or disarticulated human remains in the mechanical scrap area or the shovel testing. The proposed project will have No Effect to archaeological sites or cemeteries based on this intensive archaeology survey report, and historic and modern aerials demonstrate no structures 50 years or older are present within the Project direct and indirect APE. GTI recommends the project be allowed to proceed as planned.