Technical Reports
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12588/1128
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Browsing Technical Reports by Author "Figueroa, Antonia L."
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Item An Intensive Pedestrian Survey for Proposed Greenway Extensions at Culebra and Helotes Creeks, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014) Figueroa, Antonia L.In April of 2014, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological pedestrian survey of a proposed trail for the Greenway Extensions of Culebra and Helotes Creeks in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The proposed trail system is 2.7-km long and runs along Culebra and Helotes Creeks. The goal of the archaeological survey was to identify and document all prehistoric and/or historic archaeological sites that may be impacted by the proposed trail alignment. The archaeological work was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6850, with Dr. Raymond Mauldin serving as Principal Investigator and Cynthia Moore Munoz serving as Project Manager. Antonia Figueroa was the Project Archaeologist. The field work resulted in the excavation of 22 shovel tests along the proposed trail corridor. Ground disturbances in the Area of Potential Effect and modifications to the creek banks made shovel testing infeasible in some parts of the project area. Although several archaeological sites surround the project area, no new archaeological sites were documented during the archaeological survey. Since only one artifact, an isolated find, was encountered during the archaeological investigations, the CAR recommends the proposed trail alignment for the Greenway Extensions of Culebra and Helotes Creeks proceed as planned. In a letter dated June 26, 2014, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) agreed with these recommendations. The COSA Office of Historic Preservation also concurred with the CAR’s recommendations. Artifacts collected and records generated during this project were prepared for curation according to Texas Historical Commission guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR at UTSA.Item Archaeological Investigations of the Monterrey Park Improvements, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2019-10) Figueroa, Antonia L.On March 4, 2019, The University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), in response to a request from the City of San Antonio (COSA), conducted archaeological investigations in the form of exploratory backhoe trenching in advance of proposed improvements to Monterrey Park located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Monterrey Park Improvements Project was funded by the COSA and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The project was located on COSA property, and therefore, it was conducted under the Antiquities Code of Texas. Archaeological work was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8798. Due to federal funding received by TPWD for the project, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was also required. The COSA’s Office of Historic Preservation (COSA-OHP) and Texas Historical Commission (THC) reviewed the project. Paul Shawn Marceaux served as the Principal Investigator, and Antonia L. Figueroa served as the Project Archaeologist. The archaeological investigations were concentrated along Zarzamora Creek. Archaeological investigations conducted by CAR resulted in the excavation of four backhoe trenches along the creek bank. During backhoe trenching, no cultural material or archaeological sites were encountered. CAR recommends no further work, and improvements in this part of the park can proceed as planned. All project related materials, including the final report, are permanently stored at the CAR curation facility.Item Archaeological Monitoring for the San Pedro Avenue, Main Avenue, and Navarro Street Roundabout Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2018) Figueroa, Antonia L.From March 2017 to February 2018, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological monitoring for the San Pedro Avenue, Main Avenue, and Navarro Street Roundabout Project in downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Adams Environmental, Inc., on behalf of the City of San Antonio (COSA), contracted CAR to conduct the archaeological monitoring in association with road and utilities improvements. The project fell under COSA’s Unified Development Code (UDC) (Article 6 35-630 to 35-634) and required review by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) under the Antiquities Code of Texas. The archaeological work was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7906. Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux served as Principal Investigator, and Antonia L. Figueroa served as the Project Archaeologist. The fieldwork consisted of archaeological monitoring of excavations associated with San Antonio Water System (SAWS) utilities installation and COSA roadwork. Much of the project area has been subjected to vehicular traffic and has been impacted by previous utilities. No new archaeological sites were documented during the archaeological monitoring, and only modern material was observed. CAR recommends no further archaeological work and that improvements proceed as planned. Records generated during this project were prepared for curation according to THC guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR.Item Archaeological Monitoring of Tree Plantings at Selected San Antonio Parks, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2018) Stacy, Cathy A.; Figueroa, Antonia L.; Blomquist, JustinFrom November 9, 2010, through March 13, 2016, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio intermittently conducted archaeological monitoring for the City of San Antonio Tree Planting Initiative. This initiative was designed to improve San Antonio’s tree canopy across all 10 City Council Districts. The archaeological project involved monitoring the excavation of holes for the planting of 1,085 trees within multiple parks and cemeteries throughout the city. Archaeologists targeted monitoring locations identified to have a moderate-to-high probability of containing buried cultural deposits. The project was sponsored by the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 5786. Dr. Steve Tomka was the original permit holder. After Tomka’s departure from CAR, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) permit was transferred to Dr. Raymond Mauldin in 2015. In addition, at the request of Sara Ludena (Project Reviewer, South Texas Region) of the Architecture Division of the THC, a historic structures permit (No. 790) was obtained for tree planting in Brackenridge Park due to the number (n=22) of trees to be planted at the historic park. The first of the monitoring occurred from November 9, 2010, through March 5, 2011. Cathy A. Stacy served as the monitor during this phase of the investigations. Mechanical auger bores (n=848) were excavated to facilitate the planting of trees in Olmos Basin Park, Mahncke Park, San Pedro Springs Park, Crockett Park, City Cemetery No. 3, Roosevelt Park, San José Burial Park, Espada Park, and Stinson Park. Cultural material was encountered at City Cemetery No. 3, though it was not associated with intact deposits nor were the finds significant. The different types of material were documented, but not collected. The second phase of monitoring took place on January 17, 2013. Justin Blomquist served as the monitor. Ninety-two mechanical auger bores were excavated for the planting of trees in City Cemetery No. 4, Confederate Cemetery, and City Cemetery No. 6. No historic or prehistoric deposits were identified during the excavations, and no temporally diagnostic artifacts were recovered during the monitoring. The third phase of monitoring was conducted in 2016, and Antonia L. Figueroa served as the Project Archaeologist. Tree planting activities in Brackenridge Park Lambert Beach, City Cemetery No. 1, No. 3, No. 6, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery were monitored. During this phase, 145 auger bores were excavated. No intact historic or prehistoric deposits were identified during the excavations, and no temporally diagnostic artifacts were recovered during monitoring. CAR recommends no additional work at this time, though additional excavations in high probability areas could require monitoring. All project-related documentation are permanently curated at the CAR facility.Item Archaeological Services for Utilities Placement on Commerce Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2017) Figueroa, Antonia L.; Zapata, José E.In January and February of 2017, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological monitoring of excavations associated with the utilities installation on Commerce Street, Bexar County, Texas. The CAR was contracted by M.J. Boyle General Contractor, Inc. to monitor excavation activities along Commerce Street in downtown San Antonio. The archaeological investigations and construction monitoring were conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit No. 7893 with Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux serving as the Principal Investigator and Antonia Figueroa serving as the Project Archaeologist. The project area is in a City of San Antonio right-of-way and within the River Improvement Overlay District. The site is also in an area reported as the possible site of the Battle of the Alamo funeral pyre; however, no evidence for this was encountered. Four trenches were excavated to accommodate utility installations. Two of the four trenches resulted in evidence of cultural material. CAR staff identified evidence of the historic electric railway system (41BX2163) that once traversed the APE in Trenches 3 and 4. Cultural material was observed and collected west of the Acequia Madre de Valero (41BX8) in Trench 3. This area appears to have been heavily disturbed by previously installed utilities, and the cultural material is likely refuse removed from the acequia during historical maintenance. CAR does not recommend further work on the site or in the Area of Potential Effect, and CAR recommends construction proceed as planned. All collected artifacts and project-associated documentation are permanently curated at the CAR facility.Item Archaeological Survey of the Highland Oaks Subdivision, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2017) Figueroa, Antonia L.On May 24 and 25, 2017, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological pedestrian survey of the Highland Oaks Subdivision in southern Bexar County, Texas. Adams Environmental, Inc. contracted CAR to conduct the work in association with future road improvements by Bexar County in the Highland Oaks subdivision. The current roads are unimproved, and 3,700 meters (m) of the residential subdivision are planned to be improved by Bexar County. As improvements will be within the public right of way (ROW) and funded by Bexar County, the project falls under the Texas Antiquities Code. The archaeological work was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8032. Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux served as Principal Investigator, and Antonia Figueroa served as the Project Archaeologist. The fieldwork consisted of a pedestrian survey and the excavation of 36 shovel tests in the existing ROW. Much of the project area has been subjected to vehicular traffic and has been impacted by residential activities. No new archaeological sites were documented during the archaeological survey and shovel testing, and only modern material was observed. CAR recommends no further archaeological work and that improvements proceed as planned. Records generated during this project were prepared for curation according to Texas Historical Commission guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR at UTSA.Item Cultural Resources Monitoring for the Carnahan Canal Wall Stabilization Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2019-11) Figueroa, Antonia L.In January of 2019, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), in response to a request from the City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation (COSAOHP), conducted archaeological monitoring for the Carnahan Canal Stabilization Project in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project area is located on Brackenridge Park, which is owned by COSA, and the work is subject to the Texas Antiquities Code. The archaeological monitoring was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8735, and the COSA-OHP and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) reviewed the project. Paul Shawn Marceaux served as the Principal Investigator, and Antonia L. Figueroa served as Project Archaeologist. The project area measures 0.57 hectares (1.4 acres). The project was conducted in two stages. Stage 1 included the removal of the collapsed portions of the canal wall and the vegetation that had fallen into the canal. Stage 2 involved the stabilization of the canal bank with a combination of soil, gabion rock, and concrete powder. During this stage, the bank was graded, dressed with topsoil, and covered with grass seed and fertilizer. No cultural material was collected during the project. CAR recommends no further work for the project. However, if any future impacts occur along the canal banks, archaeological monitoring should be required. All records generated during the project were prepared in accordance with Federal Regulations 36 CFR Part 79 and THC requirements for State Held-in-Trust collections.Item Intensive Pedestrian Archaeological Survey of the Loop 1604 San Antonio River Access Park, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2010) Figueroa, Antonia L.; Perez, Jason B.; Ulrich, Kristi M.The Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio performed an intensive pedestrian survey of the Loop 1604 San Antonio River Access Park, Bexar County, Texas. The work was conducted for the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). During the survey of 3.05 acres conducted by CAR, seven shovel tests and three backhoe trenches were excavated. No sites were identified within the project area and the CAR recommends that the proposed plans for the Loop 1604 San Antonio River Access Park can proceed as planned. The project was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit # 5717 with Dr. Steve Tomka serving as Principal Investigator and Antonia L. Figueroa serving as Project Archaeologist. No artifacts were recovered and all project related documents are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research.Item Intensive Survey (Shovel Testing) Associated with the Anticipated Construction of a Bus Shelter at Travis Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014) Beecher, Preston; Figueroa, Antonia L.In February 2014, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted a pedestrian survey and shovel tests in anticipation of proposed improvements to Travis Park by VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority. This project is partially funded by the Federal Transit Administration through the Department of Transportation, and, therefore, it falls under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as revised in 1999/2000 and codified in 36 CFR 800. The City of San Antonio acquired Travis Park in the early 1870s, and the project falls under Chapter 35 of the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code, prohibiting subsurface disturbances within historically significant properties. This archaeological work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6781, with Dr. Steve Tomka serving as the Principal Investigator. These improvements to Travis Park include the construction of a new bus shelter on the north side of the park. The construction will affect an area measuring roughly 12 meters by 4.5 meters. Pedestrian survey and shovel testing were conducted to test for cultural deposits that could potentially be impacted by the proposed improvements. The surface was examined, and five shovel tests were excavated to determine if cultural deposits existed beneath the surface. No historic or prehistoric items were seen on the surface. Shovel testing revealed that the deposits were disturbed down to depths below 60 cm. As the VIA bus stop construction is not to surpass 60 cm below the surface, the construction will impact only disturbed deposits that have little or no research value. Consequently, no additional archaeological investigation is recommended within the project area.Item Pedestrian Survey of Proposed Greenway Extensions at Leon Creek/IH-10/Loop 1604 Area, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014) Figueroa, Antonia L.; Luzmoor, Mark P.In May 2014, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological survey and shovel testing of a 1 km extension of the Leon Creek Greenway in advance of the construction of the proposed trail. The archaeological work included a 100 percent pedestrian survey of the proposed trail and shovel testing. The principal goal of the survey was to identify and document all prehistoric and/or historic archaeological sites that might be impacted by the proposed park trail. The initial portion of the trail began within the previously recorded Pavo Real site (41BX52), originally excavated in 1979-1980 (Collins et al. 2003). While this area was surveyed, no shovel tests were excavated in this previously tested area. Eight shovel tests were excavated along the remaining portion of the proposed trail extension. The only buried cultural material, consisting of several pieces of modern glass and a bullet casing, was encountered in a single shovel test located on the eastern end of the proposed trail, just west of IH-10. No temporally diagnostic artifacts, features, or new sites were identified during the course of this survey. The archaeological investigations were performed under the Texas Historical Commission Permit No. 6873, with Antonia L. Figueroa serving as the Project Archaeologist, Mark Luzmoor serving as Crew Chief, and Dr. Raymond Mauldin serving as the Principal Investigator. Cynthia Munoz served as the project manager. Given the lack of recovery, the CAR does not recommend any further work at this location. We suggest that construction of the Leon Creek Greenway trail extension should proceed as planned. In a letter dated June 5, 2014, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) agreed with these recommendations. Kay Hindes of the COSA Office of Historic Preservation also concurred with the CAR’s suggestions. No artifacts were curated on this project. Records generated during this project were prepared for according to THC guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR at UTSA.Item Standing Structure Survey of a Portion of San Pedro Creek, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas(Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014) Tomka, Steve A.; Figueroa, Antonia L.; Carbajal, Laura; Pople, Elizabeth; Dupont, William A.The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was contracted by the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to conduct a Standing Structure Survey along the upper portion of San Pedro Creek beginning at the San Pedro Creek flood diversion tunnel and ending just northeast of South Frio (Alamo) Street. The Standing Structure Survey is part of restoration efforts, sponsored by SARA, along a portion of San Pedro Creek. These restoration efforts involve bank stabilization, riparian vegetation restoration, and the assessment of the architectural resources distributed along the banks of the creek within the project area. The goal of this Standing Structure Survey was to inspect all architectural resources found within the project area and determine whether they are eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and if eligible, whether they warrant listing. From December 2012 through March 2013, CAR carried out this Standing Structure Survey in collaboration with the Center for Cultural Sustainability (CCS) of the School of Architecture at UTSA. Before starting the fieldwork, we prepared a GIS base map of the project area. All properties that fell within 150 feet from the centerline of San Pedro Creek were included within the project area. Using these parameters, we visited and photographed 70 properties. Of these, 26 properties are recommended as not eligible for listing on the National Register because they do not meet the minimum age requirement and/or do not possess attributes related to the four NRHP eligibility criteria. Of the remaining 44 properties, 35 are considered potentially eligible for listing on the National Register under one of more of the eligibility criteria. Of these 44 properties, 9 properties are already listed on the National Register. Twelve bridges, three footbridges, and the retaining walls that line the channel of San Pedro Creek from the northern beginning point of the project Area of Potential Effect (APE) to its southern terminus at South Alamo were also inspected. Four of the twelve bridges and all three footbridges are potentially eligible for listing on the NRHP. Finally, several segments of retaining walls along the western and eastern banks of the creek are recommended as potentially eligible for listing on the NRHP. In a letter dated June 29, 2014, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) concurred with these recommendations.