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Texas Historical Commission
Abstract
Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI) was contracted by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (CLIENT), to conduct archaeological monitoring for proposed improvements to the Cleveland-Partlow House, Liberty, Liberty County, Texas. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a Recorded Texas Landmark, and documented as archaeological Site 41LB84. The project proposed to alleviate drainage issues around the house through the excavation of a wide, shallow trench in which geofabric and river gravels were placed along the perimeter of the house to divert water and install new support piers below the house. In total, eleven piers were excavated under the house, eight of which were located on the western side of the home. In November 2017, Carter Design Associates, the architectural firm associated with the project, sought guidance from the Texas Historical Commission (THC) concerning the planned improvements. As the property is under the ownership of a political subdivision of the State, the project was subject to review under the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). All work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Code Permit No. 8502 with Ashley E. Jones serving as Principal Investigator. Ms. Jones conducted monitoring of drainage trench excavations on July 30 through August 1, 2018, and pier excavations on August 31 and September 1, 2018.
All of the matrix that was excavated during construction activities was screened and diagnostic artifacts were collected. The material culture observed in the perimeter trench for drainage alleviation included white earthenwares, milk glass, window glass, lamp glass, container glass (amber, aqua, and colorless), wire nails, terracotta flower pots, and fragments of brick. Three small personal items, a button, a faux pearl, and a marble, were recovered. The open crawl space under the house contained architectural materials, including brick, tile, and shingles. Other artifacts observed included animal bone, some with processing marks, and larger fragments of white earthenware and leaded glass.
As no significant features were encountered during the installation of the new drainage feature and piers, RKEI does not recommend any further archaeological investigations of the monitored areas. However, should additional excavation of trenches, or further excavation of newly installed trenches or piers exceed their current depths, further work may be required. All field records and artifacts produced during monitoring activities are curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
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