Houston Archeological Society - Publications Abstracts

Abstracts of HAS Publications

Report No. 1

Aten, Lawrence E. (1967).
Excavations at the Jamison Site (41LB2), Liberty Co.,Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 1
72 pages + 6 pages of illustrations.
Out of Print

The Jamison site (41 LB 2), an earth midden located near Dayton, Texas, was excavated from 1959 to 1961 by members of the Houston Archeological Society. Approximately 1,600 artifacts were recovered from thirteen five-foot squares. Of these, nearly 1,400 were potsherds, 135 were projectile points, and the remaining 100 were other chipped stone artifacts.

It was possible to group the material into a series of four assemblages: the first (and earliest) is characterized by relatively more expanding stem dart points than are found in subsequent assemblages, a preference for the use of chert over solidified fossil wood, and is pre-ceramic; the second is similar to the first assemblage but has slightly different proportions of dart point stem forms and preferences of stone material, and is separated from the first assemblage by artifactually sterile levels; the third is characterized by plain and red-filmed sandy paste ceramics, by relatively more contracting stem dart points than were encountered in previous assemblages, and by more or less equal proportions of expanding straight , and contracting stem arrow points; the fourth (and youngest) is characterized by plain and incised clay-tempered ceramics, very few contracting stem dart points, and relatively more contracting stem arrow points than were encountered in the previous assemblage.

Due to the paucity of comparative information, specific conclusions on the relation of this site to others in the Galveston Bay area are not feasible; however, in concluding this report, a number of questions and suggestions are posed.

Report No. 2

Hole, Frank, editor (1974).
Archeological Investigations Along Armand Bayou, Harris County, Texas.
Technical Report No. 2, Department of Anthropology, Rice University;
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 2.
Out of Print

I. Archeology of the Upper Galveston Bay Region, by Frank Hole. Review of the archeology of Galveston Bay area, Texas.

II. The Armand Bayou Survey and Excavations, by Michael J. O’Brien. In 1974 members of the Houston Archeological Society and students of Rice University conducted and archeological survey of Armand Bayou, a tributary of Clear Creek/Clear Lake, Harris County, Texas. This survey identified a number of prehistoric sites including 41 HR 81 (shell midden), 41 HR 82 (shell midden), 41 HR 88 (historic house site), 41 HR 141, 41 HR 142, 41 HR 143 (Rangia midden), 41 HR 144 , 41 HR 145, 41 HR 146 (Gillespie site, sand midden), 41 HR 147, 41 HR 148, 41 HR 149, 41 HR 150, 41HR 151 (large Rangia shell midden), 41 HR 153 (shell midden). Also reported was site 41 GV 44 a large shell midden on the south shore of Clear Lake. Excavations were conducted at 41 HR 82, designated the Fullen Site, in 1970.

In addition to the details of the survey and excavations this chapter includes a section on excavation techniques for shell middens. Analysis of the artifacts are covered in the final section of this chapter. Artifacts include points, bifaces, unifaces, choppers, hammerstones, and various ceramics.

III. Analysis of the Molluscs, by Bonnie Hole. This final chapter covers the analysis of the mollusks forming the shell middens. Molluscs found in the survey and excavations were predominantly Rangia cuneata and Crassostrea virginica.

Report No. 3

Patterson, Leland W. (1980).
The Owen Site, 41 HR 315: A Long Occupation Sequence in Harris County, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 3.
21 pages + 29 unnumbered pages of tables and figures.

From author’s Introduction: Site 41 HR 315 has a number of interesting items, not previously available in any detail. Late Paleo and Early Archaic projectile points, such as Plainview, Angostura, and Early Stemmed, have not previously been found in-situ in this region. This site gives a good picture of the introduction and further technological development of the bow and arrow on the upper Texas coast. The proposed chronological sequence for aboriginal occupations in Harris County has been confirmed, although few absolute dates are yet available.

Report No. 4

Patterson, L. W., J. D. Hudgins, R. L. Gregg and W. L. McClure (1987).
Excavations at site 41WH19, Wharton county, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 4
33 pages + 39 unnumbered pages of tables and figures.

Site 41 WH 19 is a major stratified prehistoric site represents approximately 10,000 years of occupations. The excavations were conducted by members of the Houston Archeological Society with major support by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution who provided radiocarbon dating for the site. Artifacts from this site include late Paleo-Indian projectile points to late prehistoric Rockport ceramics. Faunal remains from the site include freshwater shellfish, bison in small numbers, possible “elephant” bones, turtle, alligator, snakes, and various rodents among other fauna.

Report No. 5

Wheat, Patricia and Richard L. Gregg (1988).
A Collection of Papers Reviewing the Archeology of Southeast Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 5
57 pages.

Sixteen papers are included in Report No. 5. These papers range from Joan Few’s review of the Indians of the Gulf Coast as an example of the general papers to Roger Moore’s discussion of the Diverse Works/Market Square Archeological Project, as historical site in downtown Houston. The complete list of papers is given below:

Wheat, Patricia: A Collection of Papers Reviewing the Archeology of Southeast Texas: An Introduction.

Few, Joan: Indians of the Gulf Coast: A synthesis of archeological, historical and theoretical information.

O’Brien, Michael J.: The Fullen Site.

Ensor, Blaine and Harold Drollinger: Recent developments in southeast Texas archeology.

Ambler, J. Richard: The Lower Trinity River and vicinity.

Shafer, Harry J.: Archeology in the San Jacinto River basin: A look back after 20 years.

Hole, Frank: Shell Point (41BZ2).

Patterson, Leland W.: Prehistoric occupation sequences in southeast Texas.

Pearson, Charles E.: Evaluation of prehistoric site preservation on the Outer Continental Shelf: The Sabine River area, Offshore Texas.

McClure, W. L.: Evidence of subsistence practices.

Dillehay, Tom D.: Archeological implications of an ethnographic shell midden.

Good, Carolyn: Historic resources of Addicks and Barker reservoirs.

Hudgins, Joe D.: Post West Bernard armory.

Brown, Kenneth L.: Filling some gaps in Houston’s unwritten history: Two examples.

Moore, Roger G.: Diverse Works/Market Square Archeological Project.

Anderson, Texas B.: A discussion of methodology in historical archaeology.

Report No. 6

Patterson, Leland W. (1989).
A Data Base for Inland Southeast Texas Archeology.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 6
54 pages.

Data tables for Arrow Points, Dart Points, Ceramics, Radiocarbon Dates, Lithis Tools, General Lithics, Terrestrial Faunal Remains, Aquatic Faunal Remains, Miscellaneous Artifacts, Burial Data, and Basic Site Data plus a list of publications for sites reported on and a general reference list. All sites reported are in southeast Texas.

Report No. 7

Patterson, Leland W. (1989).
An Archeological Data Base for the Southeastern Texas Costal Margin.
Houston Archeological society Report No. 7

Data tables for site data, arrow points, dart points, ceramics, radiocarbon dates, lithics, terrestrial fauna remains, and burial data. Site publication and general reference lists complete the report.

Report No. 8

Black, W. Marshall (1989).
A Study of Decorative Designs on Goose Creek and San Jacinto Pottery of Southeast Texas. Houston Archeological society Report No. 8.
Out of Print

From author’s Introduction: “Nearly 2000 years ago, the archaic inhabitants of Southeast Texas began to make pottery. They adopted a distinctive style in regard to paste compositions, vessel forms, and decoration, which is known, broadly, as Goose Creek Ware“.

“The taxonomy proposed by Aten (1983) includes two major types based on temper. The classic Goose Creek type is untempered but there is a more pervasive, temporally and spatially, Goose Creek type that is heavily sand tempered. Around 1000 AD grog (crushed potsherd) temper began to be used. This is called San Jacinto ware”.

The bulk of the report is an illustrated catalog of decorations found on Goose Creek and San Jacinto wares.

Report No. 9

Patterson, Leland W., W. Marshall Black, William L. McClure, Rebecca Storey, and Suzanne Patrick (1993).
Excavations at the Bowser Site, 41 FB 3, Fort Bend County, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 9

The Bowser site, 41 FB 3, was investigated by the Houston Archeological Society in 1990 and 1991. The site was a campsite with short term occupations and in the Late Archaic a cemetery following the Late Archaic mortuary tradition. Sixteen burials are described in this report with grave goods and skeletal analysis.

Report No. 10

Patterson, Leland W., Joe D. Hudgins, Richard L. Gregg, Sheldon M. Kindall, William L. McClure, and Raymond W. Neck (1993).
Excavations at the Ferguson Site, 41 FB 42, Fort Bend County, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 10.

The Houston Archeological society investigated the Ferguson site in 1987 and 1988. This site is a deeply stratified site with some disturbance by animal burrows and burial pits. The site was occupied intermittently from Late Paleo-Indian to Late Prehistoric times. Late Archaic burials were found at this site. The report describes artifacts and vertebrate animal remains recovered from the site.

Report No. 11

Patterson, Leland W., Joe D. Hudgins, William L. McClure, Sheldon M. Kindall and Richard L. Gregg (1994). Excavations at the Joe Davis Site 41 FB 223, Fort Bend County, Texas. Houston Archeological society Report No. 11.

Site 41 FB 223 is a large stratified prehistoric campsite with occupation components from Late Paleo-Indian through Late Archaic times. No ceramics were found at this site. The site is located on a terrace of the Brazos River near Fulshear, Texas. Human remains were found. Faunal remains from this site include turtle, fish snakes rabbits, bison, turkey and other animals

Report No. 12

Patterson, Leland W. (1996).
Southeast Texas Archeology.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 12.

Report No. 12 has 7 chapters which cover all aspects of southeast Texas Archeology. The Chapters are: Chapter 1: Introduction and regional description; Chapter 2: Chronology and technological traditions; Chapter 3: Representative archeological sites. Chapter 4: Prehistoric technology; Chapter 5: Lifeways; Chapter 6: Social organization; Chapter 7: Summary and future research.

Report No. 13

Hudgins, Joe D. and Greg Dimmick (1998).
A Campsite of the Retreating Mexican Army, April, 1836: 41 WH 91, Wharton County, Texas. Houston Archeological Society Report No. 13.
18 pages + 23 unnumbered pages of maps and photographs of artifacts.

In 1998 a campsite of the Mexican Army was investigated by the Houston Archeological Society in Wharton county, Texas. The survey was done using magnetometers to locate metal objects which were recovered cleaned and cataloged. Among the artifacts recovered were shako plates, metal emblems and gun parts. This project was supported by historical research into the activities of the Mexican Army during its retreat from Texas in 1836. This report is illustrated with photographs of many of the recovered artifacts.

Report No. 14

Patterson, Leland W., Joe D. Hudgins, Sheldon M. Kindall, William L. McClure, Marianne Marek, Tom Nuckles and Richard L. Gregg (1998).
Additional Excavations at the Bowser Site 41 FB 3, Fort Bend County, Texas, Part 1L Archeology.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 14;
Fort Bend Archeological Society Report No. 7.

The Bowser site is located in Fort Bend County, Texas. This site was excavated as a joint project of the Houston Archeological society and the Fort Bend Archeological Society. The site includes human burials of the Late Archaic Mortuary Tradition of Austin, fort Bend and Wharton counties, Texas. In addition to human remains, which will be reported in a later publication, artifacts recovered include: projectle points, lithic flakes, chert cores, prismatic blades, shell ornaments, bone implements, red ochre and sandstone not naturally occurring at the site.

Report No. 15

Patterson, Leland W., Richard L. Gregg, Sheldon M. Kindall and Gloria Marubio (1999).
The Whitehead Collection, Chambers County, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 15.

The Whitehead collection was made by Dr. H. Whitehead in the Smith Point area of Chambers County, Texas. The collection includes projectile points, lithic tools, bone artifacts, marine shell artifacts, creamics and glass beads. Based on projectile point analysis the area was occupied from Late Paleo-Indian (8000-5000 BC) to Historic Indian (AD 1700-1800) times. The report is illustrated with photographs and line drawings of artifacts.

Report No. 16

Hudgins, Joe D, Terry Kieler and Greg Dimmick (2000).
Tracking the Mexican Army Through the Mar de Lodo (Sea of Mud) April 29-May 9, 1836: 41 WH 92, 41 WH 93, 41 WH 94, 41 WH 95, Wharton County, Texas.
Houston Archeological society Report No. 16.
42 pages + 29 unnumbered pages of figures, maps and tables.

The second in a series of reports on archeological and historical investigations of Mexican Army campsites from the Texas Revolution. In late April and early May of 1836 elements of the Mexican army were encamped in northeastern Wharton County, Texas. Chance finds of cannon balls by a farmer led to the investigation of these sites. The Houston Archeological society members and landowners in the area conducted magnetometer surveys and surface collecting in the study area and recovered numerous artifacts associated with the Mexican Army. Among the most interesting artifacts recovered include parts from Brown Bess muskets with which the Mexican Army was equipped and uniform buttons, brass emblems and brass cross- belt plates.

Report No. 17

Patterson, Leland W., Joe D. Hudgins and William L. McClure (2000).
Excavations at Site 41 FB 28, Fort Bend County, Texas.
Houston Archeological society Report No. 17.

Site 41 FB 28 is locate on a terrace of the San Bernard River. The excavations were conducted by the Houston Archeological Society. Nine one-meter pits were dug in arbitrary 5 cm levels. Artifacts recovered include stone tools and ceramics which indicate an occupation sequence from Early Archaic through Late Prehistoric times. The site is interpreted an a seasonal processing station for plant foods with some hunting and lithic manufacturing. The excavations covered only a small part of the site.

Report No. 18

Patterson, Leland W., Sheldon M. Kindall, William L. McClure and Elizabeth K. Aucoin (2001).
Additional Investigations at 41GV53, Galveston County, Texas.
Houston Archeological Society Report No. 18.
15 pages [page numbers omitted on some copies] plus 9 pages of tables and 26 pages of maps and figures.

Report 18 records the work done at GV53 by Houston Archeological Society and supplements previous work reported Prewitt and Associates, Inc in Reports of Investigations No. 77 and No. 89. 41GV53 is the earliest shell midden reported from southeast Texas and dates from c.5,000 BC to 1500 AD. Surface collections indicate a possible Paleoindian occupation of this site. 41GV53 is located on Clear Creek and is composed of Rangia sp. a brackish water clam still extant in the area. The site is well stratified and technological changes are clearly delineated particularly the introduction of ceramics.

Special Publication 2002

Patterson, L. W. (2002)
Bibliography of the Prehistory of the Upper Texas Coast, No. 12.
Houston Archeological Society, Special Publication.
93 pages.

Special Publication 2002 is a cumulative bibliography of the Prehistory of the Upper Texas Coast and supplants the previous 11 bibliographies on the same subject by Patterson