An Intensive Pedestrian Archaeological Survey of Hot Wells County Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Date

2016

Authors

Smith, Stephen
Marceaux, Paul Shawn

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

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

Abstract

On March 2, 2016, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological survey of approximately 1.62 ha (4 acres) of land in advance of development at Hot Wells County Park in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. This archaeological work was performed for the Bexar Heritage and Parks Department on behalf of Bexar County. The survey, conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Antiquities Code, was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7576. Dr. Paul Shawn Marceaux served as the Principal Investigator, and Stephen Smith functioned as the Project Archaeologist. The CAR used pedestrian reconnaissance with shovel testing to search for cultural resources across the project area. The survey identified one new archaeological site (41BX2128) and revisited the previously recorded Hot Wells Bath House site (41BX237). Prehistoric material recovered from shovel tests within 41BX2128 consisted of chert flakes and burned rock; no temporally diagnostic artifacts or features were identified. Deposits containing prehistoric cultural material appeared intact below about 10-15 cm (4-6 in.), while the matrix above this contained a mixture of prehistoric and modern materials. The depth of the intact deposits and density of buried prehistoric material suggest the site has research potential. Recently investigated sites in close proximity to 41BX2128 make useful comparisons and demonstrate further the newly recorded site’s research potential. The CAR recommends site 41BX2128 be listed as having unknown eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) until testing to determine eligibility status can be completed. CAR also recommends 41BX2128 is eligible to be formally designated a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). Based on current construction plans, the CAR recommends no further archaeological testing at this time as planned improvements will not impact cultural resources identified during this survey. CAR recommends all subsurface impacts deeper than 12 cm (5 in.) within the boundary of site 41BX2128 be avoided. If impacts below 12 cm (5 in.) cannot be avoided, CAR recommends test level investigations. All collected artifacts and records generated during this project were prepared for curation in accordance with THC guidelines. They are permanently curated at CAR.

Description

Keywords

archaeological investigation, archaeology, Texas archaeology, archaeological surveying, excavations, Bexar County, San Antonio, Hot Wells Hotel Site

Citation

Department