Intensive Survey and Test Excavations at 41BX1576: A World War II German POW Camp at Camp Bullis Military Reservation, Bexar County, Texas

Author(s): Richard B. Mahoney

Year: 2004

Summary

During November 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological survey and National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility testing of a former World War II German prisoner of war camp (41BX1576) at the United States Army Camp Bullis Military Reservation in Bexar County, Texas. The survey and testing efforts were accompanied by archival research and interviews with a former Camp Bullis German prisoner of war.

The field efforts within the 4.66-acre proposed area of development consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey, excavation of 30 shovel tests, and excavation of six 1-x-1-m test units. Five hundred seventy-six artifacts were recovered, revealing both prehistoric and historic components. Two hundred thirty-five of these artifacts, comprised primarily of wire nails, were discarded pursuant to Chapter 26.27(g)(2) of the Texas Administrative Code. The balance of the cultural material (341 artifacts) is permanently housed at the CAR curatorial facility. No significant cultural deposits or features were encountered during excavation.

Although foundations of camp support facilities still exist, given the lack of undisturbed features and the mixed nature of the historic and prehistoric components, CAR recommends that this site be considered ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or for listing as a State Archeological Landmark. It is further recommended that the proposed development be allowed to proceed without additional cultural resources investigations.

Cite this Record

Intensive Survey and Test Excavations at 41BX1576: A World War II German POW Camp at Camp Bullis Military Reservation, Bexar County, Texas. Richard B. Mahoney. 2004 ( tDAR id: 427813) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8427813

Keywords

Culture
Historic • Prehistoric

Material
Chipped Stone • Glass • Metal

Site Name
41BX1576

Site Type
Governmental Structure • Historic Governmental Structure • Military Structure • Non-Domestic Structures

Investigation Types
Collections Research • Data Recovery / Excavation • Heritage Management • Historic Background Research • Reconnaissance / Survey • Site Evaluation / Testing

Geographic Keywords
Bexar (County) • Camp Bullis • Camp Bullis Military Reservation • Texas

Temporal Keywords
WWII

Spatial Coverage

min long: -98.617; min lat: 29.665 ; max long: -98.506; max lat: 29.72 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

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

Contributor(s): John J. Leffler; Fort Sam Houston Museum, San Antonio

Principal Investigator(s): Steve A. Tomka

Repository(s): Fort Sam Houston

Prepared By(s): Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Submitted To(s): Performance Group, Inc.

File Information

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2004-Mahoney-CB-CAR-No.-348.pdf 21.54mb Mar 4, 2017 4:30:03 PM Confidential

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