Richard B. Mahoney

Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Salado Creek Hike and Bike Trail, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In November of 2002 and March of 2003, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archeological and geoarcheological investigations along Salado Creek in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The purpose of this fieldwork was to investigate, using shovel testing and backhoe trenching, the impact of the proposed construction of an approximately three-mile-long hike and bike trail along the creek. The work included testing for the presence of the historic Alsbury Family Cemetery and Homestead that may be in close proximity to the trail’s right-of-way. Work was performed under contract with HNTB Corporation of San Antonio. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2917, with Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator. Shovel testing and backhoe trenching yielded no significant archeological deposits. No cultural material was collected during the survey. A backhoe trench and shovel tests placed along the trail’s path in the vicinity of the cemetery encountered no signs of graves and archival research suggests the cemetery is well outside the trail right-of-way. It is believed that locating the Alsbury Family Cemetery may require pedestrian survey and subsurface investigations that are outside the scope of this project. Finally, it is recommended that the construction of the proposed hike and bike trail proceed as planned since it will not impact intact cultural deposits of significant research potential.

Intensive Survey and Test Excavations at 41BX1576 A World War II German POW Camp at Camp Bullis Military Reservation, Bexar County, Texas

During November 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological survey and National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility testing of a former World War II German prisoner of war camp (41BX1576) at the United States Army Camp Bullis Military Reservation in Bexar County, Texas. The survey and testing efforts were accompanied by archival research and interviews with a former Camp Bullis German prisoner of war. The field efforts within the 4.66-acre proposed area of development consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey, excavation of 30 shovel tests, and excavation of six 1-x-1-m test units. Five hundred seventy-six artifacts were recovered, revealing both prehistoric and historic components. Two hundred thirty-five of these artifacts, comprised primarily of wire nails, were discarded pursuant to Chapter 26.27(g)(2) of the Texas Administrative Code. The balance of the cultural material (341 artifacts) is permanently housed at the CAR curatorial facility. No significant cultural deposits or features were encountered during excavation. Although foundations of camp support facilities still exist, given the lack of undisturbed features and the mixed nature of the historic and prehistoric components, CAR recommends that this site be considered ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. It is further recommended that the proposed development be allowed to proceed without additional cultural resources investigations.

The Medio Creek Site (41BX1421): National Register Test Excavations, Bexar County Texas

During April 2001, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing for archeological site 41BX1421, located in southwest Bexar County, Texas, under contract with the Texas Department of Transportation. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 2569. The Phase II testing fieldwork consisted of excavation of five test units across the site to investigate cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey phase. A single sheet midden consisting of burned limestone cobbles was encountered across the majority of the site. In concert with the archeological field investigations, the following special analyses and studies were performed to aid the determination of site integrity and eligibility: radiocarbon, lithic, aboriginal ceramic, vertebrate faunal. and magnetic sediment susceptibility. The synthesis of these analyses has provided adequate data to determine 41BX1421 ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It is therefore recommended that the Loop 1604 improvements proceed without further cultural resources investigations.