Archeological Resources and Shipwrecks

The Texas coastal zone contains archeological sites providing evidence that humans have inhabited the region for as long as 15,000 years. All known stages of aboriginal cultural development are represented in this area. The discovery and study of archeological sites is essential to the understanding of prehistoric cultures and to the understanding of man's cultural evolution in this part of the world.

A study of archeological resources in the Texas coastal zone (Briggs, 1971) states that there are 1,339 sites on record in their study area which included 35 counties in the Texas coastal lowlands (Fig. 32). and submerged lands within the three league limit. The density of known sites varies considerably throughout the area, but this is thought to be due to the varying intensity of study within the area.

The following descriptions of sites contained in those countied immediately adjacent to the proposed sale area are based on information from Briggs (1971):

Brazoria County This county contains 37 sites. These sites are similar to many of those found in the coastal zone in that they contain middens of ostrea and rangia shells, and most are located on or near the strand.

Calhoun County

There are 17 sites remaining on record in this

county at present. A number of sites have been destroyed. One site contains the prehistoric burials of ten people.

Chambers County

This county contains 187 known archeological sites,

138 of which were located by the archeological survey of the area to be

inundated by the Wallisville reservoir.

Most of these 139 sites were

shell middens, representing occupation from Archaic to Historic times.

There are 44 sites on record but three have been

destroyed by mechanical and natural actions.

Harris County

There are 160 sites on file in Harris County. A

study of sites in the Addicks Reservoir Basin provided a base for formulation of the Galveston Bay focus which has been supported by the excavation of additional sites in the Galveston Bay area near

The most common type of archeological site along the Texas coast between Sabine Lake and Corpus Christi Bay is the shell midden. These middens contain principally clam and oyster shells along with animal bones, tools, projectile points, and in some cases pottery. These middens may be small deposits representing only a few days' occupation of the site or large mounds representing occupation for hundreds of years.

A large number of archeological sites along the Texas coast have been destroyed or disrupted and no longer exist or are no longer useful

for study. Shell dredging, erosion, and spoil banks resulting from dredging are the primary causes for this destruction. The loss of any archeological site results in the irretrievable loss of an opportunity for the study of the prehistoric culture represented by

that site.

It is probable that there are as yet undiscovered sites on the continental shelf offshore Texas. There is evidence that since 10,000

years ago there has been a minimal rise in sea level of 40 to 60

meters which would support the probability that during this time some portions of the continental shelf may have supported human

habitation. 1/

In addition to archeological sites, there are a number of shipwrecks off the Texas coast and in the embayments. Some of these wrecks date

to the early 16th century. The following list of shipwrecks is taken from Briggs (1971). The most likely locations for shipwrecks are near the Gulf shore and in embayments.

1/

Personal communication with Wilburn A. Cockwell, Florida Dept. of State, October 1, 1973.