Archeological Data Recovery Excavations along Becerra Creek (41WB556), Webb County, Texas

Mahoney, Richard B.; Mauldin, Raymond P.; Tomka, Steve A.

doi:10.21112/ita.2002.1.4

Cited by 8 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Investigation of 41WB556 on Becerra Creek took a critical look at chronology, technology, and subsistence issues and rather systematically identified problems that severely limited interpretation would need to be addressed before any further work was conducted along those lines of analysis (Mahoney et al 2002). The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted the data recovery investigations at 41WB556, for which they inherited the research design that was fundamentally similar to that utilized on the Boiler and Lino sites.…”

Section: Failure Of Traditional Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…UTSA's conclusions are briefly reviewed here to lay out the basic problems of traditional approaches to the archaeological record in south Texas, to lay out the theoretical and methodological context at the time of the Cuatro Vientos investigations, and to explain the analytical directions of the Cuatro Vientos sites as detailed in this report. Mahoney et al (2002) proposed three basic research design components, each of which proved unfruitful to a degree. The first of three research issues was integrity and chronology, and based on 27 radiocarbon dates, the authors concluded: "unfortunately, the charcoal dates were clearly not in context, and therefore we lack any independent way to verify the residue dates.…”

Section: Failure Of Traditional Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the earliest work, there seems to be a common opinion that the area is lacking data from well-excavated sites. Since these writings, several publications in the last 10 years or so have filled in a few gaps (Mahoney et al 2002;Miller et al 2000;Quigg et al 2002).…”

Section: Archaeological and Cultural Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…. From 1999From through 2002, studies were conducted on two upland sites located on opposite sides of Beccera Creek near the Rio Grande just west of the project area (Mahoney et al 2002 andQuigg et al 2002). Intensive testing followed by extensive data recovery programs were performed by TRC Mariah (Quigg et al 2002) and the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), the University of Texas, San Antonio (Mahoney et al 2002).…”

Section: Data Recovery Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From 1999From through 2002, studies were conducted on two upland sites located on opposite sides of Beccera Creek near the Rio Grande just west of the project area (Mahoney et al 2002 andQuigg et al 2002). Intensive testing followed by extensive data recovery programs were performed by TRC Mariah (Quigg et al 2002) and the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), the University of Texas, San Antonio (Mahoney et al 2002). Exhaustive excavations and a broad suite of sampling and analysis techniques were utilized to explore these two prehistoric campsites, which contained eolian deposits with cultural components spanning the long Archaic period and portions of the Late Prehistoric.…”

Section: Data Recovery Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Cuatro Vientos: A Reconsideration of Seven Prehistoric Sites in the Lower Rio Grande Plains of South Texas

Carpenter¹,

Chavez²,

Miller³

et al. 2010

ITA

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IntroductIonWith this report, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) begins a reconsideration of approaches to the evaluation and treatment of those areas where surface lithic scatters are the main constituent of the archeological record. The reconsideration was inspired by the Cuatro Vientos project in Laredo, Webb County, Texas. The project and the ideas surrounding it developed slowly. The ideas continued to evolve through discussion between SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) and TxDOT as additional work on the project occurred. Because this project proceeded in an idiosyncratic fashion, some words of explanation might be helpful. The following discussion provides an account of how the project developed and where future work might be heading. PrevIous work at cuatro vIentosBlanton and Associates (Blanton) conducted the initial survey of the project's area of potential effects (Ringstaff et al. 2004). The survey identified 14 sites. The Blanton survey report showed the local archeological record to predominantly be a messy landscape of mixed assemblages. Within this landscape were some pockets with potentially-preserved, isolable components and features. The Blanton survey report thus recommended eight of the 14 sites for additional evaluation. TxDOT, in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission, accepted those recommendations.TxDOT then tasked SWCA with developing a scope for the fieldwork under one of TxDOT's general archeological services contracts. SWCA's approach concentrated on the identification of those select areas that had a high level of integrity, with horizontal and/or vertical separation of assemblages and components (Carpenter, Houk, and Miller 2005). This integrity-focused approach has been explicitly advocated by TxDOT in the past and continues to inform TxDOT's evaluations of the effects of its projects. IntegrIty and the evaluatIon oF south texas sItesThe integrity-focused approach can perhaps be refined, however. Two issues must be addressed. On the one hand, the archeological record of south Texas and its upland lithic scatters is not amenable to many interpretive strategies. The data from the uplands are typically of poor quality. In many places, the ground surface has remained stable or has eroded. Preservation of many types of material is poor. The same general areas have seen repeated occupation. This combination of factors has produced an archeological record that can be difficult to render meaningful. Many aspects of past human behavior and adaptations can not be inferred under these circumstances. On the other hand, the activities that occurred in these areas may have played a significant role in local adaptations. We should not be willing to treat such a large portion of the archeological record as a black box, where significant activities remain unidentified. To ignore the uplands makes an appreciation of the valley settings more difficult, since data would not be available from the upland areas for comparative analysis. Refining current approaches means splitting ...

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Section: Failure Of Traditional Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Failure Of Traditional Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological and Cultural Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Recovery Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Recovery Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Cuatro Vientos: A Reconsideration of Seven Prehistoric Sites in the Lower Rio Grande Plains of South Texas

Carpenter¹,

Chavez²,

Miller³

et al. 2010

ITA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Royal Coachman (41CM111) An Early Middle Archaic Site along Cordova Creek in Comal County, Texas

Mahoney¹,

Shafer²,

Tomka³

et al. 2003

ITA

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Archaeological Testing of Four Sites on Camp Bowie, Brown County, Texas

Weston¹,

Mauldin²

2003

ITA

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In August of 2002, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio tested four sites at Camp Bowie in Brown County Texas. Three sites, 41BR471, 41BR500, and 41BR522, were prehistoric and one site, 41BR392, had both historic and prehistoric components. This work was done under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2926 for the Adjutant General's Department of Texas. Testing at these sites was done based on recommendations made for 41BR500 by Mauldin and Broehm (2001) and recommendations made for 41BR392, 41BR471 and 41BR522 by Greaves (2002). Testing at 41BR392 centered on a prehistoric burned rock midden. Excavations took place in and around the midden. A few bifaces and a considerable amount of lithic debris were recovered. The size, location and density of burned rock within the midden were examined as a means of investigating the internal midden structure. Analysis of these data suggest that the midden represents an earth oven. Ethnobotanical recovery revealed the presence of geophytes. Radiocarbon dates place the feature within the Late Prehistoric period. Testing at 41BR471 involved surface collection and excavation. Excavations confirmed that the site is deflated with sub-surface deposits being shallow and very minor. What remains of this site is a moderate to dense surface scatter of unmodified debitage and a few lithic cores. Testing at 41BR500 centered on a suspected buried burned rock feature discovered during the spring 2001 survey. Excavations recovered unmodified lithic debitage, biface fragments and a scraper. Excavations in a separate area of the site where high debitage density was noted recovered a Nolan dart point dating to the Middle Archaic along with a number of bifaces and a considerable amount of unmodified lithic debitage. This additional testing uncovered a single charcoal stain, and radiocarbon dates place this feature within the Late Prehistoric period. Our analysis of the distribution of the diagnostic points, the distribution of debitage, and the radiocarbon date, suggest that much of this material is in secondary context. Test excavations at 41BR522 showed very little debitage in or around the prehistoric burned rock midden. This small midden is nearly a perfect ring of burned rock surrounding a central hearth depression. Preservation was excellent for the recovery of both charred botanical remains and for examination of the midden structure. A Montell dart point, dating to the Late Archaic was recovered. As with 41BR392, the size, location and density of burned rock within the midden was examined as a means of investigating the internal midden structure. Analysis revealed the midden to be a central hearth/earth-oven type burned rock midden. Ethnobotanical recovery revealed the presence of geophytes. Radiocarbon dates place the feature within the Late Prehistoric period.

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Archeological Data Recovery Excavations along Becerra Creek (41WB556), Webb County, Texas

Cited by 8 publications

References 20 publications

Cuatro Vientos: A Reconsideration of Seven Prehistoric Sites in the Lower Rio Grande Plains of South Texas

Cuatro Vientos: A Reconsideration of Seven Prehistoric Sites in the Lower Rio Grande Plains of South Texas

Royal Coachman (41CM111) An Early Middle Archaic Site along Cordova Creek in Comal County, Texas

Archaeological Testing of Four Sites on Camp Bowie, Brown County, Texas

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