Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey Of GISD Parkside School Tract City Of Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas

Authors

Caitlin Gulihur
Ann M. Scott

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

Georgetown Independent School District (GISD) has proposed the Parkside School Tract project where school facilities will be constructed southwest of Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas. GISD retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to conduct a systematic, intensive pedestrian survey of the approximate 18.3-acre project area. Because GISD, 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 (THC). In addition, the survey meets the standards for compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, should federal funding or permitting be required for the project. The cultural resources survey was carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 9477, issued to Caitlin Gulihur, MA, RPA, Principal Investigator. Fieldwork was carried out by Caitlin Gulihur with assistance from Archeological Technician Matthew Larsen. Records from the project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University.

project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University. The approximate 18.3-acre parcel 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 18, 2020. Thirty-six shovel tests were excavated in areas that appeared previously undisturbed. One archeological site, 41WM1429, was recorded during fieldwork. Site 41WM1429 is a prehistoric-age lithic procurement site, with a low density of artifacts and no observed buried deposits. One isolated find, a lithic core, was also recorded during the course of the survey. Site 41WM1429 is recommended as ineligible for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listing or for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) due to a lack of unique characteristics and the lack of potential data that the site may contain.

Given the absence of eligible historic properties within the APE, it is Terracon’s recommendation that the proposed project be allowed to proceed as currently designed. In the unlikely event that human remains or cultural features 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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