Excavations at 41 LK 106, a prehistoric occupation site in Live Oak County, Texas

During February and early March 1978, personnel from the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted limited excavation and testing operations at the archaeological site of 41 LK 106, 11.3 km east of Three Rivers in Live Oak County, Texas. A field crew consisting of Thomas C. Kelly, A. Joachim McGraw, Darrell Creel and Tom Miller investigated the prehistoric, multi-functional site located on a steep bluff above the main channel of Sulphur Creek (see Fig. 1). The testing of 41 LK 106 was conducted under the terms of a contract between the Center for Archaeological Research (UTSA), Thomas R. Hester, Director, and the Exxon Minerals Company, U.S.A. (Felder Uranium Operations), as represented by Mr. Ken Barrett. The aboriginal site of 41 LK 106 was first identified in a Phase I preliminary survey by Kelly and Hester (1977). The site was of such potential value, as indicated by the variety and frequencies of diagnostic projectile points collected, that the authors nominated it to the National Register of Historic Places and recommended that it be preserved if at all possible. Shortly after the identification of the site's importance, Exxon-Felder Uranium engineers, who had planned a major Sulphur Creek stream diversion in the area, found their land-moving operations would destroy the central portion of the site. Since a redesign of the Sulphur Creek diversion was not feasible, additional archaeological work was initiated to ascertain the significance of the central portion of the site prior to construction of the diversion, and also to gather information necessary for a possible Phase III (full scale mitigation excavation), should such a final phase of work be necessary.