Article Title

Archeological Survey For The Culebra Creek NWWC Drainage Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

Damon Burden

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On August 31, 2017, personnel from Prewitt and Associates, Inc., conducted an intensive archeological survey on Culebra Creek in west-central San Antonio, Texas, for Adams Environmental, Inc., and the City of San Antonio under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8145. This work was completed prior to proposed channel improvements below existing bridges at Culebra Road and Timber Path. The horizontal Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is 10.6 acres of city-owned property composed of 1.7 acres at Culebra Road and 8.9 acres downstream at Timber Path. The APE segment at Culebra Road encompasses a 380-ft-long by 165-ft-wide bridge corridor, with a 45-ft-wide corridor for a proposed pilot channel stretching 95 ft east and 160 ft west. The APE segment at Timber Path encompasses a 510-ft-long by 130-ft-wide bridge corridor, with a 175-ft-long by 45–80-ft-wide area for a proposed pilot channel west of the bridge and a 7.4-acre area slated for various channel improvements east of the bridge corridor.

Review of topographic maps, aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and project schematics before the field investigation revealed extensive disturbance in the project area derived from previous channel modification and road and bridge construction. The field investigation included pedestrian survey and the excavation of nine shovel tests in and adjacent to the APE. The field investigation identified shallow surface soils, surface or near-surface gravel deposits, and exposed limestone bedrock across the project area. No artifacts or archeological sites were found. Furthermore, the APE does not include surface soils of sufficient depth to contain buried archeological sites. Based on this observation, the APE has very little potential for intact archeological deposits that meet eligibility criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. Therefore, Prewitt and Associates, Inc., recommends that the proposed project be allowed to proceed without additional archeological investigations.

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