Article Title

A Cultural Resources Survey of the HCTRA SHTE-77 Tollway Widening Project, Southeast Harris County, Texas

Authors

Eleanor Stoddart

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On February 12 and 14, 2018, Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc., conducted an intensive pedestrian archeological survey of seven separate permit areas (within four separate tracts of land) located along the Sam Houston Parkway toll road. The tracts are spread over a 2.83 km (1.76 mile) length portion of the roadway, from just north of Green Shadows Drive to north of Pine Street, in Pasadena, Texas. The tracts will be developed into detention basins, with an expected depth of impact of eight feet. The project areas are depicted on the current Pasadena USGS quad map (2995-413), in southeastern Harris County, Texas. The project will be completed for the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), through Crouch Environmental Services, Inc.

The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) submitted Department of the Army Permit Application SWG-2016-00699 in September, 2017. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Staff Archeologist reviewed the permit areas and indicated a cultural resources investigation was necessary to determine if historic properties exist within seven of the permit areas (Permit areas A, C, G, I, J, K, and L, some of which are contained in the same detention basins).

The objectives of the investigation were to locate and identify cultural materials, sites, or historic properties within the proposed impact area, and to prepare management recommendations regarding any identified resources. An intensive pedestrian field survey of the project area was conducted of the seven permit areas, and included both surface and subsurface (shovel test) examination. The permit areas are contained within four separate tracts of land, and cover a total area of approximately 23 acres. A total of 33 shovel tests were excavated, all with negative results

Eleanor Stoddart served as Principal Investigator, with Stephanie Orsini acting as Project Archeologist, and Tom Nuckols and Rachel Goings acting as field technicians.

No evidence of archeological or historic remains was identified. Consequently, no additional archeological investigations are recommended. In the event that archeological deposits or features should be encountered during construction, work should cease in the immediate vicinity and the Archeology Division of the Texas Historical Commission contacted for further consultation. Paper records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

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