An Intensive Pedestrian Survey for the Proposed Howard Peak Greenway Trail System, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In October 2015, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed 8-km Howard Peak Greenway Trail System located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The survey was performed for Adams Environmental, Inc. on behalf of the City of San Antonio (COSA). The survey, conducted under the requirements of the Texas Antiquities Code, was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7139 with Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux serving as the Principal Investigator and Antonia L. Figueroa serving as the Project Archaeologist. Artifacts and records generated during this project were prepared for curation according to Texas Historical Commission (THC) guidelines and are permanently curated at the CAR-UTSA. Archaeological work included a 100 percent pedestrian survey of the proposed trail along with shovel testing. The principal goal of the survey was to identify and document all prehistoric and/or historic archaeological sites that may be impacted by the proposed park trail. The survey resulted in the excavation of 99 shovel tests, the revisit of site 41BX879, and the recording of three new sites (41BX2109, 41BX2110, and 41BX2111). All four sites contained buried prehistoric material such as lithic debitage and burned rock. Site 41BX2110 also contained edge-modified tools, and a bifacial tool and perforator were recovered from site 41BX2111. However, no features or temporally diagnostic artifacts were identified at any of the sites, and the majority of the cultural material was in shallow deposits. The lack of sediments, dearth of deposits, and low density of artifacts at all four sites suggest they do not possess potential for future research. Therefore, the CAR recommends no further archaeological work and that the proposed trail proceed as planned. The CAR also recommends the sites be listed as ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).