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Significance Testing of Archeological Site 41Sr242, the Cornelio Alvarez Sr. Site, Starr County, Texas

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Significance Testing of Archeological Site 41Sr242, the Cornelio Alvarez Sr. Site, Starr County, Texas SIGNIFICANCE TESTING OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE 41SR242, THE CORNELIO ALVAREZ SR. SITE, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS CSJ: 3632-01-001 PHARR DISTRICT Prepared for Texas Department of Transportation Environmental Affairs Division 118 E. Riverside Austin, Texas 78704 Prepared by Stephen M. Carpenter, M.A., Christopher W. Ringstaff, M.A., Mercedes C. Cody, M.A., James T. Abbott, Ph.D., Ken Lawrence, M.A., Chris Shelton, M.A., Charles D. Frederick, Ph.D., and Christina Nielsen, M.A. SWCA Environmental Consultants 4407 Monterey Oaks Boulevard Building 1, Suite 110 Austin, Texas 78749 www.swca.com Principal Investigator Christopher W. Ringstaff Texas Antiquities Permit 7912 SWCA Project Number 52105.03 SWCA Cultural Resources Report No. 19-675 Archeological Studies Program Report No. 181 January 2020 ISBN: 978-1-935545-48-4 SIGNIFICANCE TESTING OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE 41SR242, THE CORNELIO ALVAREZ SR. SITE, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS Copyright © 2020 Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) This is a work for hire produced for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which owns all rights, title, and interest in and to all data and other information developed for this project under Contract 57903SA004. Brief passages from this publication may be reproduced without permission provided that credit is given to TxDOT and SWCA Environmental Consultants. Permission to reprint an entire chapter, section, figures or tables must be obtained in advance from the Supervisor of the Archeological Studies Program, Environmental Affairs Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas, 78701. Copies of this publication have been deposited with the Texas State Library in compliance with the State Depository Requirement. Printed by Sir Speedy published by: Texas Department of Transportation Environmental Affairs Division Archeological Studies Program Scott Pletka, Ph.D., Supervisor Archeological Studies Program Report No. 181 and SWCA Environmental Consultants Austin, Texas SWCA Cultural Resources Report 19-675 ISBN 978-1-935545-48-4 Significance Testing of Archeological Site 41SR242, The Cornelio Alvarez Sr. Site, Starr County, Texas ABSTRACT The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), conducted National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility testing of the Cornelio Alvarez Sr. site (41SR242) as part of the State Loop (SL) 195 project (Project) (CSJ: 3632-01-001) in Starr County, Texas. Subsequent to the field investigations, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted artifact analysis, reporting, and curation preparation for the multi-component historic and prehistoric site. Investigations were conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 United State Code 30601) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (9 Natural Resources Code). The investigations assessed the site’s eligibility for listing on the NRHP (36 Code of Federal Regulations 60.4) and for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL; 13 Texas Administrative Code 26.8, 26.12). Christopher W. Ringstaff served as Principal Investigator under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 7912. TxDOT conducted the field investigations were from February 20–24, 2017, and April 10–14, 2017. Site 41SR242 is primarily a Middle to Late Archaic site with lesser Late Prehistoric and perhaps earlier components. The open occupational site is located on an upland margin landform in a tributary valley a few miles from the Rio Grande. The investigations revealed material assemblages consisting of diffusely scattered burned rock, debitage, and lithic tools, which were predominantly recovered from a 30- to 50- cm-thick stratum of mixed artifacts. However, a few concentrations of artifacts were identified, and each location yielded isolated intact features. Formation and post-depositional processes are generally not conducive to preservation of intact archeological surfaces, patterns, or site structure. Although the overall site lacks integrity and potential data yield, isolated discrete behavioral loci are present. Therefore, site 41SR242 is recommended as eligible for the NRHP and as an SAL. This recommendation pertains to the portions of the site within the APE. The site extends beyond the APE, and the areas outside of the APE have not been evaluated. i Significance Testing of Archeological Site 41SR242, The Cornelio Alvarez Sr. Site, Starr County, Texas ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The National Register and State Antiquities Landmark testing of 41SR242 was a collaborative effort of Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Environmental Affairs Division (ENV), TxDOT Pharr District, Cox McClain Environmental Consulting, and SWCA Environmental Consultants. Landowner Cornelio Alvarez, Jr. warrants particular recognition for his hospitality, grilled ribs, and chicken. The Pharr District’s logistical support was critical and thanks go out to Edward Paradise Jr., Robin Gelston, Eduardo Garcia Jr., Marisa Ramirez, Dagoberto Salinas, Edelmiro Perez, Esteban Martinez, Antonio Moreno, and Claudio McKee. TxDOT ENV Principal Investigator Christopher W. Ringstaff made it all happen, cradle to grave, with the field assistance of Dr. J. Kevin Hanselka, Dr. Jason Barrett, and Dr. James Abbott. Dr. Abbott’s geoarcheological assessment is a principal interpretive basis for understanding the site. As part of the geoarcheological assessment, CT imagery was captured at the High-Resolution CT Scan Facility (UTCT) at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin. Analysis of the imagery was greatly facilitated by Dr. Matthew Colbert, who performed the scans and patiently walked Abbott through the ins and outs of the various software packages used for analysis. Thanks are due to him, Dr. Jessie Maisano, Dr. Romy Hanna, David Edley, and Gary Zucker at UTCT for their help and their patience. Consulting Geoarcheologist Dr. Charles Frederick conducted the thin section analysis and the analysis of sediment samples, including granulometry, magnetic susceptibility, CCE, and organic matter. Additionally, Dr. Abbott’s analysis benefitted from conversations about the site with a number of individuals, including Charles Frederick, Arlo McKee, Eric Oksanen, Kevin Hanselka, Ken Lawrence, Chris Ringstaff, Matt Colbert, Jason Barrett, Corey Crawford, and Waldo Troell. Special thanks are due to Corey for covering the last field session. Thanks, are in order for the experienced professional staff of Cox McLain for assistance with field efforts, contracting, and initial post-field analyses. Dr. Chris Dayton assembled an “A- Team crew” consisting of Mathew Stotts, Corey Crawford, and Cesario Guerra. The post-field artifact analysis was conducted by Stephen Carpenter, Jessica Ulmer, Ben Morton, Michael Golden, and Mercedes Cody. Chris Shelton conducted the faunal analysis. The report was written and compiled as a group effort by Christopher Ringstaff, Dr. James Abbott, Stephen Carpenter, Ken Lawrence, Chris Shelton, and Mercedes Cody with maps and figures produced by Carole Carpenter and Christopher Ringstaff. Lauri Logan and Kendall Duncan edited, organized, and formatted the report. Finally, Mercedes Cody oversaw the curation preparation. Much appreciation to those who contributed to the effort. To these and others, this author owes a debt of gratitude. Steve Carpenter SWCA Project Manager ii Significance Testing of Archeological Site 41SR242, The Cornelio Alvarez Sr. Site, Starr County, Texas CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... ii Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Project Description And Area of Potential Effects (APE) ..................................................................... 1 Previous Archeological Investigations ................................................................................................... 1 General Overview of Research Objectives ............................................................................................. 3 Overview of Investigations and Report Organization ............................................................................ 3 Chapter 2. Environmental Setting ............................................................................................................. 4 Description of Setting ............................................................................................................................. 4 Overview of Physical Geography ........................................................................................................... 4 Geology and Soils .................................................................................................................................. 4 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Ecological Setting - Flora And Fauna .................................................................................................... 7 Setting Prior to Historic Modifications .................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 3. Cultural Setting .....................................................................................................................
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