Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey of Burleson-Retta Road at Village Creek, Tarrant County, Texas

Authors

Dan Rodriguez
Ken Lawrence

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive cultural resources survey with mechanical trenching on September 18, 2017, of 8.8 acres of new and existing right-of-way (ROW) along BurlesonRetta Road in Tarrant County, Texas. Because the project will receive funding from the Federal Highways Administration, it qualifies as an undertaking as defined in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 800.16(y) and, therefore, survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S. Code 306108). Furthermore, the project must also comply with the Antiquities Code of Texas (9 Natural Resources Code 191). Kevin Hanselka served as Principal Investigator under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8097.

The area of potential effects (APE) is defined as a total of 8.8 acres comprising the bridge, new approaches on either side of the bridge, as well as 2.39 acres of new ROW.

A background literature review determined that the APE has not previously been surveyed for cultural resources and no archeological sites, historical markers, or State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs) are within 0.6 miles (1 km) of the APE. One possible cemetery is located approximately 0.17 miles south of the APE on the western side of Village Creek. The survey identified substantial disturbances within the APE, including prior infrastructure development, such as utilities and bridge construction, and a variety of other land use practices. SWCA assessed the entire 8.8-acre survey area, but focused on the 2.39 acres of proposed new ROW. SWCA excavated four backhoe trenches to assess the potential for deeply buried cultural deposits. The survey identified deep subsurface disturbance close to Village Creek. Moderately intact soils were found away from the creek; however, these soils contained negligible potential for deeply buried cultural materials and these investigations identified no cultural resources. Due to the heavy disturbance observed throughout the existing ROW and the negligible potential for deeply buried deposits or intact cultural material, no further archeological investigations are recommended. SWCA recommends that a finding of “no historic properties affected” be made for the current undertak.

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