Backhoe trenching on the banks of the Old San Antonio River at Pyron Avenue, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

On December 5, 2007, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological investigations, by means of backhoe trenching, where Pyron Avenue intersects with the Old San Antonio River channel within the footprint of the proposed South Area Lift Station elimination project. Investigations at this location were carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 4732, under contract with Bain Medina Bain Inc. to meet compliance with the City of San Antonio's Unified Code of Development and the requirements of the Texas Antiquities Code. CAR personnel monitored backhoe excavations on both banks of the Old San Antonio River channel, south of Pyron Avenue, to examine the nature of the deposits within the area targeted for sewer-line replacement. Backhoe Trench 1, on the west bank, yielded historic cultural materials that were designated as site 41BX1757. The depositional integrity of the deposits was previously compromised during the placement of the SAWS lift/pump station, or wet-well, that skirts the south line of 508 E. Pyron Avenue. Backhoe Trench 2, on the east bank, exhibited natural soil deposition and also yielded isolated historic artifacts, designated as isolated finds. While site 41BX1757 contains a wealth of historic artifacts, their highly disturbed context and lack of diagnostic information limits the research potential of the deposits and the site. Therefore, CAR recommends that site 41BX1757 does not warrant nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or formal designation as a State Archaeological Landmark. Further archaeological work is not warranted, and it is the recommendation of CAR that the proposed South Area Lift Station elimination activities be allowed to progress. No artifacts were collected during this project and all project-associated documentation is permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Research as per THC requirements.