Intensive Survey (Shovel Testing) Associated with the Anticipated Construction of a Bus Shelter at Travis Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In February 2014, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted a pedestrian survey and shovel tests in anticipation of proposed improvements to Travis Park by VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority. This project is partially funded by the Federal Transit Administration through the Department of Transportation, and, therefore, it falls under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as revised in 1999/2000 and codified in 36 CFR 800. The City of San Antonio acquired Travis Park in the early 1870s, and the project falls under Chapter 35 of the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code, prohibiting subsurface disturbances within historically significant properties. This archaeological work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 6781, with Dr. Steve Tomka serving as the Principal Investigator. These improvements to Travis Park include the construction of a new bus shelter on the north side of the park. The construction will affect an area measuring roughly 12 meters by 4.5 meters. Pedestrian survey and shovel testing were conducted to test for cultural deposits that could potentially be impacted by the proposed improvements. The surface was examined, and five shovel tests were excavated to determine if cultural deposits existed beneath the surface. No historic or prehistoric items were seen on the surface. Shovel testing revealed that the deposits were disturbed down to depths below 60 cm. As the VIA bus stop construction is not to surpass 60 cm below the surface, the construction will impact only disturbed deposits that have little or no research value. Consequently, no additional archaeological investigation is recommended within the project area.