41MV120: A Stratified Late Archaic Site in Maverick County, Texas

362 Pages·2010·18.92 MB·English

41MV120: A Stratified Late Archaic Site in
Maverick County, Texas
Bradley J. Vierra
with contributions by C. Britt Bousman, John R. Cross,
J. Philip Dering, Wulf Gose, Anne A. Fox, Robert G. Howells,
Johanna Hunziker, David L. Nickels, Artie L. Metcalf,
Barbara A. Meissner, and Lee C. Nordt
Robert J. Hard and C. Britt Bousman
Prinicipal Investigators
Texas Antiquities Permit No. 1622
Archaeological Survey Report, No. 251 Archeology Studies Program, Report No.7
Center for Archaeological Research Environmental Affairs Division
The University of Texas at San Antonio Texas Department of Transportation
©copyright 1998
The following infonuation is provided in accordance with the General Rules of Practice and Procedure, Chapter
41.11 (Investigative Reports), Texas Antiquities COlmuittee:
1. Type of investigation: Testing
2. Project name: Maverick
3. County: Maverick
4. Principal investigator: Robert J. Hard and C. B11tt Bousman
5. Name and location of sponsoring agency: Texas Depmiment of Transportation, Austin, Texas 78701
6. Texas Antiquities Permit No.: 1622
7. Published by the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 N. Loop
w.,
1604 San Antonio, Texas 78249-0658,1998
A list of publications offered by the Center for Archaeological Research is available. Call [phone]; w11te
to the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 N. Loop 1604 W., San
Antonio, Texas 78249-0658; e-mail to [email protected]; or visit CAR's web site at
http://www.csbs.utsa.edulresearch/carlindex.htm.
Abstract
This repOli presents the findings of the data recovery program conducted at site 41MV120. The excavation was
conducted under a contractual agreement with the Texas Department of TranspOliation under Texas Antiquities
Pennit number 1622. A total of9,147 lithic artifacts, 30,903 g of fire-cracked rock, 1623 g of mussel shells,
457 g of snails, 43 macrobotanical samples, 79 historic alii facts, and 15 bones was recovered from these excava
tions. 41MV120 is a stratified Late Archaic site dating from ca. 2200-1200 B.P. It was periodically inundated by
floodwaters fi'om the Rio Grande which buried a series of occupational levels. The site appears to represent a
long-tenn pattem of redundant reuse. It presumably reflects a shOli-tenn campsite from which local telTace
gravels were used for core reduction and tool production. Several species of aquatic and tenestrial resources
were exploited while residing at the camp, including shellfish and medium- to small-sized animals.

Contents
Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... i
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ v
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... vii
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................. Dc
Chapter 1: Introduction
Bradley J. Vierra ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2: Environmental Background
Bradley J. Vierra ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3: Archaeological and Ethnohistorical Background
Barbara A. Meissner and Bradley J. Vierra .......................................................................................... 11
Chapter 4: Previous Investigations in Maverick County
Johanna M. Hunziker ............................................................................................................................ 17
Chapter 5: Research Design
C. Britt Bousman ................................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 6: Methods
John R. Cross ........................................................................................................................................ 37
Chapter 7: Geoarchaeology Of The Rio Grande and Elm Creek in the Vicinity
of Site 41MV120
Lee C. Nordt .......................................................................................................................................... 43
Chapter 8: Results of the Field Investigations
Bradley J. Vierra and John R. Cross .................................................................................................... 78
Chapter 9: Lithic Analysis
Bradley J. Vierra ................................................................................................................................. 117
Chapter 10: Fire-cracked Rock
David L. Nickels, Bradley J. Vierra, and Wulf Gose ......................................................................... 147
Chapter 11: Macrobotanical Remains
J. Philip Dering ................................................................................................................................... 160
Chapter 12: Freshwater Mussel (Unionidae) Shell Remains
Robert G. Howells ............................................................................................................................... 164
III
Chapter l3: Gastropod Remains
Artie L. Metcalf ................................................................................................................................... 176
Chapter 14: Faunal Remains
Barbara A. Meissner ........................................................................................................................... 182
Chapter 15: Historic Artifacts
Anne A. Fox ........................................................................................................................................ 184
Chapter 16: Site Structure
Bradley J. Vierra ................................................................................................................................. 186
Chapter 17: Evaluation of Research Issues
Bradley J. Vierra ................................................................................................................................. 213
Chapter 18: Recommendations for Future Research
Bradley J. Vierra and C. Britt Bousman ............................................................................................. 230
References Cited ................................................................................................................................ 233
Appendix A: Maverick County Site Data ...................................................................................... 256
Appendix B: Geomorphological Data
Lee C. Nordt ........................................................................................................................................ 270
Appendix C: Site Artifact Data ....................................................................................................... 287
Appendix D: Carbon-14 Data .......................................................................................................... 296
Appendix E: Lithic Analysis Methods ............................................................................................ 304
Appendix F: Archaeomagnetic Data
Wulf Gose ........................................................................................................................................... 307
Appendix G: Mussel Shell Data
Robert G. Howells ............................................................................................................................... 324
Appendix H: Snail Data
Artie L. Metcalf .................................................................................................................................... 339
IV
Figures
1-1. Project location ............................................................................................................................................. 2
2-1. Biogeographical regions of Texas ................................................................................................................ 5
2-2. Paleoenvironmental and regional chronology for South and Central Texas ............................................... 10
5-1. Location of initial TxDOT shovel tests and backhoe trenches ................................................................... 26
5-2. 41MV120 test excavationlnap ................................................................................................................... 27
5-3. Scatterplot oflithic miifacts by burned rock. ............................................................................................. 29
6-1. 41MV120 site Inap ..................................................................................................................................... 38
6-2. Excavation unit designations ....................................................................................................................... 39
7 -1. Geomorphic map of the Rio Grande and lower Elm Creek basin in the vicinity of
site 41MV120 .............................................................................................................................................. 44
7-2. Geomorphic map of the upper Elm Creek drainage basin ......................................................................... 45
7-3. Regional alluvial stratigraphy of the Rio Grande based on deep sediment cores ...................................... 48
7-4. Photographs ofmicromorphic thin sections showing progressive stages of
clay clast destluction ................................................................................................................................... 49
7-5. Alluvial stratigraphy of the upper Elm Creek basin .................................................................................. 50
7-6. Alluvial stratigraphy at site 41MV120 constructed from BHTs ................................................................ 51
7 -7. Photographs of micromorphic thin sections showing environments of deposition ................................... 52
7-8. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data from EP-2 .......................................................................... 53
7-9. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data from BHT 9 ....................................................................... 54
7-10. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data from BHT 8 ..................................................................... 55
7-11. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data from EP-1. ....................................................................... 57
7 -12. Photographs of micromorphic thin sections showing different kinds of biological activity ................... 60
7 -13. Photographs of micromorphic thin sections showing cultural debitage .................................................. 61
7-14. Depth distribution of cultural material vs.alluvial stratigraphic colunm for BHTs 7 and 8 .................... 63
7-15. Depth distribution of cultural material vs.alluvial stratigraphic colmm1 for BHTs 10 and 9 .................. 65
7 -16. Photographs of micromorphic thin sections showing characteristics of Elm Creek. .............................. 68
7-17. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data fi:om EP-4 ........................................................................ 69
7-18. Soil-stratigraphic physical and chemical data fi·om EP-3 ........................................................................ 70
7-19. Stable carbon isotopes of Rio Grande alluvium ...................................................................................... 72
7-20. Stable carbon isotopes of Elm Creek alluvium ........................................................................................ 74
8-1. Excavation Unit 2, lithic miifacts by level. ................................................................................................ 81
8-2. Excavation Unit 2, fire-cracked rock by level. .......................................................................................... 81
8-3. Excavatiom Unit 4, lithic artifacts by level. .............................................................................................. 82
8-4. Excavation Unit 4, fire-cracked rock by level. .......................................................................................... 82
8-5. Excavation Unit 6, Feanu·e 10 .................................................................................................................... 83
8-6. Excavation Unit 6, lithic miifacts by level. ................................................................................................ 84
8-7. Excavation Unit 6, fire-cracked rock by level. .......................................................................................... 84
8-8. Excavation Unit 6, mussel and snail remains by level. ............................................................................. 84
8-9. Excavation Unit 8, lithic artifacts by level. ................................................................................................ 86
8-10. Excavation Unit 8, fire-cracked rock by level. ........................................................................................ 86
8-11. Excavation Unit 8, mussel and snail remains by level. ........................................................................... 86
8-12. Excavation Unit 10, lithic miifacts by level. ............................................................................................ 87
8-13. Excavation Unit 10, fire-cracked rocks by level. ..................................................................................... 87
8-14. Excavation Unit 10, mussel and snail remains by level. ......................................................................... 87
8-15. BHT 10, profile ........................................................................................................................................ 88
v
8-16. Area 1, plan and profile ............................................................................................................................ 90
8-17. Area 1, lithic artifacts by level. ................................................................................................................. 92
8-18. Area 1, lithic atiifacts by excavation unit and level. ................................................................................. 92
8-19. Area 1, fire-cracked rock by level. .......................................................................................................... 93
8-20. Area 1, fire-cracked rock by excavation and level. ................................................................................. 93
8-21. Excavation Unit 1, Feature 10 .................................................................................................................. 94
8-22. Excavation Units 13 and 14, Feature 5 ..................................................................................................... 94
8-23. Level 12, blIDled rock ............................................................................................................................... 95
8-24. Area 1, lllussel shell by level. ................................................................................................................... 96
8-25. Area 1, snail shell by level. ....................................................................................................................... 96
8-26. Excavation Unit 14, Feature 4 .................................................................................................................. 97
8-27. Mussel shell by excavation unit and level. ................................................................................................ 98
8-28. Snail shell by excavation unit and level. .................................................................................................... 98
8-29. Area 1, Level 8 ......................................................................................................................................... 99
8-30. Area 1, Level 12 ..................................................................................................................................... 100
8-31. Area 2, plan and profile .......................................................................................................................... 101
8-32. Area 2, lithic aliifacts by level. ............................................................................................................... 102
8-33. Area 2, lithic atiifacts by excavation unit and level. ............................................................................... 102
8-34. Area 2, fire-cracked rock by level. ........................................................................................................ 103
8-35. Area 2, fire-cracked rock by excavation unit and level. ......................................................................... 103
8-36. Area 2, lllussel shell by level. ................................................................................................................. 104
8-37. Area 2, mussel shell by excavation unit and level. ................................................................................. 104
8-38. Area 2, snail shell by level. ..................................................................................................................... 105
8-39. Area 2, snail shell by excavation unit and level. ..................................................................................... 105
8-40. Area 2, Level 6 ....................................................................................................................................... 106
8-41. Area 3, plan and profile .......................................................................................................................... 107
8-42. Area 3, lithic aliifacts by level. ............................................................................................................... 108
8-43. Area 3, lithic artifacts by excavation unit and level. ............................................................................... 108
8-44. Area 3, fire-cracked rock by level. ........................................................................................................ 109
8-45. Area 3, fire-cracked rock by excavation unit and level. ......................................................................... 109
8-46. Area 3, lllussel shell by level. ................................................................................................................. 110
8-47. Area 3, mussel shell by excavation unit and level. ................................................................................. 110
8-48. Area 3, snail shell by level. ...................................................................................................................... 111
8-49. Area 3, snail shell by excavation unit and level. ...................................................................................... 111
8-50. Area 4, plan and profiles ........................................................................................................................ 113
8-51. Area 4, lithic artifacts by level. ............................................................................................................... 114
8-52. Area 4, fire-cracked rock by level. ........................................................................................................ 114
8-53. Excavation Unit 40, Levels 10 and 11. ................................................................................................... 115
8-54. Area 4, mussel and snail shell by level. .................................................................................................. 115
9-1. Cores ........................................................................................................................................................ 126
9-2. Core flake and biface flake lengths .......................................................................................................... 131
9-3. Retouched tools ........................................................................................................................................ 132
9-4. Bifaces ..................................................................................................................................................... 135
9-5. Bifaces ...................................................................................................................................................... 137
9-6. Projectile points ........................................................................................................................................ 138
9-7. Projectile points ........................................................................................................................................ 139
9-8. One-hand lllano fi·aglllent. ....................................................................................................................... 144
10-1. Fire-cracked rock fi·equencies ............................................................................................................... 147
10-2. Fire-cracked rock weight totals .............................................................................................................. 149
VI
10-3. Fire-cracked rock mean weights ............................................................................................................ 149
10-4. Percentages of fire-cracked rock. .......................................................................................................... 150
10-5. Archaeomagnetic heating events ........................................................................................................... 154
10-6. Vector component diagram representing intensity of magnetization ...................................................... 155
10-7. Archaeomagnetic heating for events for all site samples ....................................................................... 156
10-8. Maxilllulll temperatures .......................................................................................................................... 158
12-1. Unionid structures most useful in identification of shell fragments ........................................................ 167
16-1. Schematic distribution ofprojectile point types across site 41MV120 ................................................... 191
16-2. Scatter plot of number oflithic atiifacts by burned rock weight (g) for individual levels ....................... 192
16-3. Scatter plot of mussel shell weight (g) by burned rock weight (g) for individual levels ......................... 195
16-4. Scatter plot of snail shell weight (g) by mussel shell weight (g) for individual levels ............................. 195
16-5. Mean debitage weight (g) by level for Area 1. ...................................................................................... 196
16-6. Mean retouched tool weight (g) by level for Area 1. ............................................................................. 197
16-7. Lithic artifact frequencies by AU (shaded area) for Area 1. ................................................................ 197
16-8. Mean debitage weight (g) by level for Area 2 ....................................................................................... 198
16-9. Lithic atiifact frequencies by AU (shaded area) for Area 2 ................................................................. 199
16-10. Mean debitage weight (g) by level for Area 3 ..................................................................................... 200
16-11. Lithic atiifact frequencies by AU (shaded area) for Area 3 ................................................................ 200
16-12. Fire-cracked rock weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 1. .......................................................... 207
16-13. Fire-cracked rock weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 2 ......................................................... 207
16-14. Fire-cracked rock weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 3 ........................................................ 208
16-15. Mussel shell weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 1. ................................................................... 210
16-16. Mussel shell weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 2 .................................................................... 210
16-17. Mussel shell weight (g) by AU (shaded area) for Area 3 .................................................................. 211
17 -1. Projectile point-dated sites in Maverick County. .................................................................................... 228
17-2. Regional distributions ofprojectile point types ........................................................................................ 229
E-4. Conventions used for metrical attributes of retouched tools .................................................................... 306
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