Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey Of Avenue D Expansion City Of Belton, Bell County, Texas

Authors

Caitlin Gulihur
Ann M. Scott

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

The Belton Economic Development Corporation has proposed the Avenue D Expansion project where approximately 2,400 linear feet will be added to Avenue D, from the Avenue D and Loop 121 intersection to the intersection of Kirkley Drive and Powell Drive in western Belton, Bell County, Texas. The project engineer, Kasberg Patrick and Associates, LP, retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to conduct a systematic, intensive pedestrian survey of the approximate 3.31- acre project area. Because the Belton Economic Development Corporation, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, sponsored the project, the proposed undertaking is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas and oversight from the Texas Historical Commission. In addition, the survey meets the standards for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, should a US Army Corps of Engineer permit be necessary or federal funding be utilized for the project. The cultural resources survey was carried out in advance of ground disturbance under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 8061, issued to Ann M. Scott, PhD, RPA, Principal Investigator. Fieldwork was carried out by Dr. Scott, with assistance from Project Archeologist Caitlin Gulihur, MA. Records from the project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University.

The 2,400-linear-foot by 60- to 80-foot-wide alignment (3.31 acres) was considered the Area of Potential Effect (APE). Survey of the APE consisted of systematic pedestrian coverage, including discretionary shovel tests. The work was carried out on June 23, 2017. Several hundred linear feet of the alignment were disturbed from existing utilities. Several more hundred linear feet were in areas with good ground visibility or a high degree of ground slope. Two shovel tests were excavated in areas that had less than 30 percent ground visibility or placed in areas that appeared previously undisturbed. No artifacts were discovered during the excavation of the shovel tests. No sites were recorded or revisited as a result of the survey. Therefore, there are no historic properties present within the alignment. It is Terracon’s recommendation that there are no historic properties eligible for State Antiquities Landmark designation or National Register for Historic Places inclusion that will be affected by construction of the road expansion. In the unlikely event that human remains are discovered during construction, construction should cease in the vicinity of the remains and Terracon, the Texas Historical Commission’s Archeology Division, or other proper authorities should be contacted.

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