Interim Report on Archaeological Test Excavations at Site 41BX228, Walker Ranch, Bexar County, Texas

Abstract

During June and July 1977, an archaeological crew which included field school students from The University of Texas at San Antonio (under the direction of Dr. Thomas R. Hester) conducted test excavations at site 41 BX 228 on the Walker Ranch. The work was done under the terms of a contract between the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Soil Conservation Service (Purchase Order #40-7742-7-850). The site lies along the eastern portion of Site 7, a proposed floodwater retarding structure within the Salado Watershed Project proposed by the San Antonio River Authority. Previous archaeological investigations at the site consist of work reported by Scurlock and Hudson (1973), Hudson, Lynn and Scurlock (1974) and Kelly (1974). Site 41 BX 228 is located on the northeast side of the perimeter of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Walker Ranch was previously owned by Ganahl Walker, Jr., and his family for many years, but portions were sold to developers and the San Antonio River Authority in the early 1970s. The area is generally bounded by Blanco Road on the west, Bitters Road to the north and northeast and West Avenue on the southeast. Development of the area was minimal until 1978 when housing developments began to encroach on the site from both the east and west. This area is on the edge of the Balcones Fault which separates the Edwards Plateau to the north and the Coastal Plain to the south. The geology of the region is Upper Cretaceous Edwards and associated limestone with outcrops of the Glen Rose and Gulf series. The San Antonio River and Cibolo Creek are the major drainages in the general area, while Salado Creek and Panther Springs Creek constitute the primary drainages in the specific area of the site. These latter drainages have a concentration of major prehistoric aboriginal occupation sites within a few miles of the Walker Ranch (such as Granburg II and St. Mary's Hall to the south and the Theis site to the west). Paleo-Indian lithic material at both Granburg II and St. Mary's Hall confirms the presence of early occupations in the vicinity.