Results of Initial Archaeological and Geomorphological Investigations at Pershing Field, Fort Sam Houston, Bexar County, Texas

Summary

In November 1996, initial geomorphological and archeological investigations were conducted at Pershing Field on Fort Sam Houston, Bexar County, Texas as part of an Environmental Assessment. The Fort is proposing the transfer of ownership of about 50 acres of undeveloped land known as Pershing Field to the private sector. The land will be utilized for private housing under the Capital Venture Initiative. The Pershing Field investigations were designed to assess the nature of soil deposits and determine if buried cultural resources exist. Past alterations to the ground surface have included land clearing, cultivation, and road paving and have disturbed at least the top 20 to 30 cm across all of Pershing Field.

The geomorphological assessment of 19 backhoe trenches indicate that much of the broad, flat terrace encompassing Pershing Field is a Pleistocene-age terrace having little archeological potential. Only the top 30 cm or so contains a mixture of Holocene deposits, and localized pockets of 1 to 2 m thick, early to middle Holocene alluvium exist along the northern edge, adjacent to Salado Creek. Middle to late Holocene alluvial deposits are present toward the west, about 1.5 m below the higher Pleistocene terrace. These soils are capable of yielding intact cultural deposits.

Limited brief archeological investigations, including nine shovel tests, documented a single prehistoric site (41BX1209) in the northeastern corner of Pershing Field with chert flakes present to at least 60 cm below surface. This deeply buried material suggests the potential for possibly intact cultural deposits below the maximum depth of disturbance. Based on these geomorphological and limited archeological investigations, the overall research value of this site is unknown at this time If prehistoric site 41BX1209 can not be avoided and/or protected from the planned housing development, then it should be assessed for its eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places prior to any further land disturbances.

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Cultural Resource Office, Joint Base San Antonio

Repository(s): Fort Sam Houston

Prepared By(s): TRC Mariah Associates, Inc.

Submitted To(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District

Record Identifiers

Delivery Order Number(s): 79

Contract Number(s): DACA-63-92-D-0011

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