Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey of the Proposed Bowen Tract Residential Development Project, Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas

Authors

Melanie Nichols

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

At the request of Land Tejas Companies, LTD., an intensive archeological survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson archeologists for the proposed Bowen Tract Residential Development project located in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas. The archeological project area was defined as the footprint of the 111-acre (45 hectare) land tract to undergo development situated east of La Salle Avenue between the Wedgewood Golf Club and State Highway 105 (also known as Lake Conroe Parkway). As the proposed project is currently in the design phase, the maximum depth of ground disturbance has not yet been established.

Land Tejas Companies will construct new utility lines as part of this development. The local Municipal Utility District (MUD) will reimburse construction costs and will be the grantee of an easement or the title to the land containing the utilities after construction, which necessitates compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). No federal permitting or funding is attached to this project, so compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is not necessary.

The intensive pedestrian survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson archeologists from January 13-15, 2015. The entirety of the project area was subject to visual inspection supplemented by judgmentally placed shovel tests in order to evaluate the impact of the proposed project on archeological resources. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7142. A total of 72 shovel tests were excavated, exceeding the minimum archeological survey standards established by the Council of Texas Archeologists. All shovel tests, with the exception of one, were negative for archeological material. The positive shovel test yielded one flake from within level 5 (40-50 cm below the surface), which was recorded as an isolated find. However, no archeological sites were discovered or recorded during the course of the survey. All project records and photographs will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) at the University of Texas at Austin. Based on the results of the investigation, Pape-Dawson archeologists recommend that no further archeological work is necessary for the proposed project and that the project be allowed to proceed to construction.

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