Article Title

An Intensive Phase I Cultural Resources Investigation Of The Proposed Southwest Independent School District Natatorium Project, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

Adam Leroy
Mikayla Matthews

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On behalf of Southwest Independent School District (SWISD), Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. (Pape-Dawson) conducted an archaeological survey for the proposed SWISD Natatorium Project (Project) in southwestern San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. SWISD proposes to develop one of three plans for the natatorium complex on an approximately 2-hectare (5-acre) tract of land (Project Area).

The Project Area is located within the City of San Antonio’s (COSA) jurisdictional boundary, necessitating compliance with the Historic Preservation and Urban Design Section of the COSA Unified Development Code (Article 6 35-630 to 35-634). As SWISD is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) is also required. However, as no federal funding or permitting is anticipated for the Project, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is not required.

Fieldwork for the Project was conducted on January 16, 2020. Pape-Dawson archaeologist Adam Leroy served as the Principal Investigator for the Project and was assisted by archaeologist Mikayla Mathews. Pape-Dawson archaeologists performed a pedestrian survey supplemented by shovel testing investigation of the Project Area. Site 41BX2332 was identified and recorded as a result of the investigation. 41BX2332 is a surficial to subsurface twentieth century historic artifact scatter and burned trash pit. The site spans approximately 78.5 square meters (845 square feet) based on the horizontal and vertical extent of the surficial artifact scatter. Artifacts observed on the surface throughout the site included whiteware, stoneware, porcelain, colorless flat and bottle glass of varying thicknesses (some burned, some embossed with decorations), can fragments, wire nails, and unidentified ferrous metal (some burned). One shovel test (SST01) placed in the middle of the artifact scatter was positive for cultural materials. Two diagnostic artifacts, a Colt model 1908 handgun with loaded ammunition and a colorless bottle base with makers mark, were among the artifacts recovered from SST01.

Site 41BX2332 contained no cultural features and yielded common artifacts that are well documented within the region. Soils within the site and surrounding Project Area were shallow and were typically terminated at gravel impasse prior to 30 centimeters (12 inches) below surface. Additional work at the site would likely only recover similar material unlikely to contribute additional information to the archaeological record. Furthermore, the site lacks an association with people significant to the local or regional development of the area. Due to these factors, site 41BX2332 is recommended Not Eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A, B, C, or D, and is recommended ineligible for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark under the ACT.

Based on the results of the investigation, Pape-Dawson archaeologists recommend no further work for site 41BX2332. Should additional cultural materials be inadvertently encountered outside the current parameters of the Project Area during construction, it is recommended that all work in the vicinity should cease and that the COSA and Texas Historical Commission archaeologists should be contacted immediately. Following completion of the investigation, all recovered artifacts will be discarded, and the final report will be submitted to and permanently stored at the University of Texas San Antonio-Center for Archaeological Research.

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