Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey Of Victoria Avenue Improvements City Of College Station, Brazos County, Texas

Authors

Caitlin Gulihur
Ann M. Scott

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

The City of College Station has proposed the Victoria Avenue Improvements project where roadway improvements will be constructed in southern College Station, Brazos County, Texas. The project engineer, Jones & Carter, Inc, retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to conduct a systematic, intensive pedestrian survey of the approximate 6.2-acre project area. Because the City of College Station, 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. 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 permitted be utilized for this project. The work described herein was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 9084, issued to Caitlin Gulihur, MA, RPA Principal Investigator, and in adherence to Title 13, Chapter 26 of the Texas Administrative Code. Fieldwork was carried out by Caitlin Gulihur with assistance from Environmental Planning Group Manager Ann M. Scott. Records from the project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University.

The approximate 6.2-acre parcel was considered the Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the project. Survey of the APE consisted of systematic pedestrian coverage, including discretionary shovel testing and mechanical scraping. The work was carried out on September 23, 2019. One shovel test was excavated. In general, the ground surface within the APE was heavily disturbed by driveways, drainage ditches, buried utilities, and previous construction of the existing roadway. Shovel test excavation was devoid of cultural materials; prehistoric or historic-age cultural materials were not observed on the ground surface. No archaeological sites were recorded or revisited as a result of the survey. Therefore, there are no historic properties present within the project area. It is Terracon’s recommendation that there are no historic properties eligible for National Register of Historic Places inclusion or State Antiquities Landmark designation that will be affected by future construction of the proposed roadway improvements. In the unlikely event that human remains or intact cultural features are discovered during construction, those activities 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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