Archaeological investigations at four sites in the dry Comal watershed, Comal County, South Central Texas

Date

1975

Authors

Kelly, Thomas C.
Hester, Thomas R.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Abstract

In September, 1975, personnel of The University of Texas at San Antonio, Center for Archaeological Research, conducted an intensive archaeological survey of certain prehistoric sites in the vicinity of Floodwater Retarding Structure No.1, Dry Comal Creek, Comal County, Texas. These investigations were carried out at the request of the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service (purchase order 207-Tx-SCS-76). The area incorporated by Floodwater Retarding Structure No. 1 is on the West Fork of Dry Comal Creek and had been the scene of two earlier archaeological surveys, in November, 1974 (Hester, Bass and Kelly 1975), and in April, 1975 (Kelly and Hester 1975). Both surveys had produced data on a series of archaeological sites (a total of 25 sites was documented; Fig. 1) and in the latter survey (Kelly and Hester 1975), specific recommendations had been made regarding some of the archaeological resources in the area. It was as a result of these recommendations that the present survey was implemented. Three archaeological sites, 41 CM 84, 41 CM 85, and 41 CM 86, are situated at the eastern end of the proposed floodwater retarding structure. All lie above the 900-foot elevation which represents the margin of the maximum flood pool. However, available engineering data suggested that the construction activities involved in the project would lead to the damage or possible destruction of the three sites. Kelly and Hester (1975: 27-29) suggested two possible alternatives regarding the sites: either move the eastern end of the dam so as to avoid the sites entirely, or conduct additional limited investigations so that the sites might be better evaluated. The latter alternative was chosen by the SCS Temple office.

Description

Keywords

archaeological investigation, archaeology, Texas archaeology, Indians of North America, Comal County, Comal watershed

Citation

Department