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Channel to Victoria Project |
Archeological Site 41VT98 (the Buckeye Knoll Site)
PROJECT OVERVIEW Archeological site 41VT98, also known as the Buckeye Knoll Site, is located on the Channel to Victoria, an existing navigation channel that is being widened and deepened by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District (Corps). The local sponsors of the project are the Victoria County Navigation District (Port of Victoria) and the West Side Calhoun County Navigation District. The channel extends about 35 miles from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway through San Antonio Bay to a turning basin 7 miles south of the city of Victoria. The channel roughly parallels the Guadalupe River, and provides light draft navigation to industries located along the channel. The Corps maintains the channel. The archeological site is located on property owned by DuPont Corporation (DuPont). The Corps has access to the property through a real estate easement that conveys limited rights for activities related to the construction and operation of the channel.
CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS AT SITE 41VT98 National Register testing of VT98 was undertaken by the Corps in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001 because of potential impacts to the site from channel widening. Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) conducted the work under contract to the Corps. Permission for excavation was obtained from DuPont, the property owner. All cultural resource work on the Channel to Victoria is conducted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), its implementing regulations (36-CFR-800), and a Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement (PMOA) negotiated in 1990 between the Corps, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Site testing was conducted to determine the extent and significance of the site, and to determine if intact cultural deposits would be affected by deepening and widening of the channel. The testing documented that the site is a significant, multi-component prehistoric site dating from the Paleoindian through Late Prehistoric Periods (approximately 12,000 through 1,000 years ago). The testing established that areas of the site containing significant archeological deposits and human remains will not be affected by channel widening. Portions of the site that will be impacted by construction were found to have been disturbed and contained no intact deposits. No additional excavation will be required because the channel-widening project can be constructed without impacting archeologically significant portions of the site.
HUMAN REMAINS The burial portion of VT98 will not be impacted by either direct or indirect construction impacts. This portion of the site produced approximately 79 burials dating primarily to the Early Archaic period (circa 5,000 to 7,000 years of age). Additional burials at VT98 remain unexcavated. When it became apparent that this site met criteria for National Register eligibility, the Corps ceased excavation. In consultation with the SHPO, all open excavation units were completely excavated, and all exposed burials were recovered. In order to protect the site and remaining burials, the excavation units were carefully backfilled, and a fence was erected around the site by DuPont. In addition, DuPont regularly monitors the site to ensure no unauthorized access. The site is clearly extremely significant because of its age, the large number of early human burials, the rare grave goods, and the long length of time represented by its multiple components. Research conducted by Florida State University under contract to the Corps has determined that the site contains the third largest sample of prehistoric human remains of this age found in the United States. All materials recovered from the site including artifacts, human remains and associated grave goods, and field documentation are currently held in an archeological laboratory in Corpus Christi, Texas. Care has been taken to ensure that all human remains are stored securely and maintained appropriately to prevent any deterioration. The Corps has directed CEI to complete an inventory of all remains and artifacts excavated from the site, and research continues to further define the significance of VT98. The Corps is committed to completing the work initiated on VT98. A technical report of site testing and analysis will be produced by the Corps upon completion of consultation and coordination. The Corps will pay for curation and accessioning of the collection into a curatorial facility if DuPont chooses to donate or loan the collection for such purposes.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT In consultation with the Texas SHPO and DuPont, the Corps initiated consultation with Native American tribes concerning the human remains recovered from the site. Because VT98 is located on private, not federal, property the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) does not apply to these remains. Tribal consultation is being pursued by the Corps under the NHPA and 36-CFR-800. This regulation provides for consultation with any interested party. In contrast to NAGPRA, once consultation is complete, the decision on the level and extent of analysis and reporting rests with the Corps. The extent to which the Corps’ decisions are implemented, and the final disposition of the collection, will be determined in consultation with DuPont, the owner of the collection. This website has been established to disseminate information on VT98 and to provide access for public comment. In addition to tribal consultation, a public workshop is planned for early spring 2002 in Victoria to provide information on the site, and to provide an opportunity for members of the general public and archeological community to express their concerns and opinions. The time and place for this workshop will be announced on this website and published in newspapers and other appropriate forums. The public is encouraged to attend this workshop and to provide written comments directly to the Corps either by e-mail, or to the following address: Colonel Leonard D. Waterworth In addition, all questions concerning site VT98 submitted electronically will be answered. Please submit inquiries to Carolyn Murphy, Chief, Environmental Section, at carolyn.e.murphy@swg02.usace.army.mil. At the conclusion of consultation the Corps will make a decision on the level of analysis and reporting of VT98. No decisions or agreements have been made between the Corps and any other parties concerning VT98. The Corps will not make a decision until all consulting parties have been afforded the opportunity to comment. It is our sincere desire to consider and address as many of the competing interests in this issue as possible without compromising either the inherent sensitivity of dealing with human remains, or the scientific importance of this remarkable site. |