Article Title

An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey Of 9.65 Acres Along Cinema Ridge, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

Mark P. Luzmoor
Ashely E. Jones
Kristi Miller Nichols
Antonio E. Padilla

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

In March 2017, the Northside Independent School District (NISD) (Client) contracted Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI) to perform an intensive cultural resources survey within a 9.65-acre tract of land along Cinema Ridge, located immediately south of Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The purpose of this survey was to determine if cultural resources were located within the Area of Potential Effect (APE), and if feasible, assess their significance and eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and for formal designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). As the area of potential effects (APE) is located on land owned by a political subdivision of the State, the project falls under the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT), as administered by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The field work was conducted March 23 and 24, 2017 under Texas Antiquities Committee (TAC) Permit No. 7960, issued to Antonio E. Padilla, who served as Principal Investigator. Mark Luzmoor served as the Project Archaeologist and Chris Murray assisted during the field work.

Background research revealed that no previously conducted cultural resources surveys or previously recorded archaeological sites are located within the boundary of the APE. Surface visibility was around 20 percent throughout the APE. Approximately 50 percent of the APE contained fill brought in from recent construction activities near the APE, while the other 50 percent was covered by thick underbrush. During the pedestrian survey, it was noted that approximately 10 percent of the terrain contained a slope greater than 20 percent. Due to the presence of fill and the greater than 20 percent slope, only 4.35 acres of the 9.65-acres were able to be adequately surveyed. As a result, 10 shovel tests (STs 1–10) were excavated within the APE.

During the excavation of the shovel tests within the APE, it was revealed that impacts to the APE from fill dumping activities impacted a larger area than originally perceived. Of the 10 shovel tests excavated seven (STs 1–3, 5, and 7–9) showed evidence of disturbance from filling activities. Additionally one shovel test (ST 7), contained a piece of aluminum a pop top from a can, intermixed with the fill. Only three shovel tests (STs 4, 5, and 10) contained intact soils; however they were negative for cultural material.

No cultural materials were encountered within the STs or observed on the surface during the investigations of the APE. Based on the current investigations and due to the lack of cultural materials and cultural features within the APE, RKEI recommends no further archaeological work within the current project boundaries. All field records generated by this project will be curated in accordance with the Texas Archaeology Research Laboratory requirements and the TAC permit.

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