Article Title

Archaeological Monitoring of the CPS Gas Main Service Installation on East Locust Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

José E. Zapata

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), in response to a request from Adams Environmental, Inc. (AEI), conducted archaeological monitoring for the installation of CPS Energy (CPS) main gas line service in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The archaeological work consisted of monitoring CPS-related excavation activities associated with the installation of 398 m (1,305 linear ft.) of gas line on East Locust Street. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for this undertaking is defined as a 229 m (750 ft.) strip located along East Locust Street, between North St. Mary’s and East Elmira streets, on City of San Antonio (COSA) property. As a public municipal and state property, projects that might affect archaeological or historical sites are subject to regulatory review. At the municipal level, the property falls under COSA’s Unified Development Code (Article 6 35-630 to 35-634). The project also required review by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) under the Antiquities Code of Texas and proceeded under Permit No. 8929. Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux initially served as the Principal Investigator, and after his departure from CAR, Cynthia Munoz served as the Principal Investigator for the project. José Zapata served as the Project Archaeologist.

Monitoring activities were completed between October 8, 2019, and November 5, 2019. The results of the utility trenching were negative. A small amount of non-feature related Rabdotus (snail) shells and a single, unassociated burned rock were collected in the field, though no cultural features or other cultural material were encountered. In addition, a search of the THC Archeological Sites Atlas identified no previously recorded archaeological sites within 500 m (0.3 mile) of the APE.

All project related documentation, including photographs, field forms, and a copy of this report, are permanently curated at the CAR facility in accession file 2242. Pursuant with Chapter 26.27(g)(2) of the Antiquities Code of Texas, CAR requested that the Rabdotus shells and single burned rock be discarded. The discard was approved by CPS, the THC, and the COSA Office of Historic Preservation (OHP). CAR recommends no additional archaeological work within the APE, as this area holds no research value. If additional construction reveals archaeological deposits, work should cease, and the City Archaeologist of the COSA-OHP the THC should be notified. The THC concurs with CAR’s recommendations.

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