"Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed W.T. Montgomery Road W" by Melanie Nichols

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Article Title

Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed W.T. Montgomery Road Water Main Project, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

At the request of Blue Skies of Texas, an intensive archaeological survey was conducted by Pape-Dawson for the proposed W.T. Montgomery Water Main project located near the City of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. The project will entail the installation of approximately 1,600 feet (ft) (488 meters [m]) of new water line within a 40-ft (12.2-m) wide easement. The project area will extend along the western side of W.T. Montgomery Road and will then cross U.S. Highway 90 (US 90). The route of the water line will be bored beneath US 90 and its access roads while the remainder of the line will be laid out in a trench and backfilled. The project area will encompass a total area of 1.47 acres (0.6 ha). The depth of vertical impacts has not yet been determined.

Although Blue Skies of Texas will construct the new utility line, San Antonio Water System (SAWS) will be the grantee of the easement after construction. For this reason and because part of this project is located in Bexar County and TxDOT-owned rights-of-way (ROWs), compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) is required. However, as no Federal funding or permitting will be required for this project, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was not necessary.

Pape-Dawson conducted an archaeological survey for the W.T. Montgomery Water Main project on June 21, 2017. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8074. The entirety of the project area was subjected to a pedestrian survey. The majority of the project area was found to be heavily disturbed. A total of 5 shovel tests was excavated to investigate the project area and were placed in areas of least disturbance. All shovel tests were negative, and no historic or prehistoric artifacts were located and no archaeological sites were recorded as a result of this survey.

Based on the results of the survey, Pape-Dawson recommends that no further archaeological work is necessary and that the project be allowed to proceed. However, if cultural material is encountered during construction, it is recommended that all work in the vicinity should cease and that the discovery be evaluated by a qualified archaeologist who can provide guidance on how to proceed in accordance with state regulations.