Investigations of the Southeast Gateway at Mission San Jose, Bexar County, Texas

In April 1996, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological investigations in the vicinity of the southeast gate at Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, 41BX3. This investigation was necessitated by final-stage improvements associated with the construction of the National Park Service Visitors’ Center which included the installation of a storm drain to channel rain water away from the mission compound. The drain was scheduled to run from a point 22 ft inside the mission compound, through the southeast gateway, and to connect with an existing drainage system 100 ft southeast of the gate. During previous archaeological testing conducted by CAR in 1993 in anticipation of the construction of the visitors’ center (Hard et al. 1995), an undisturbed Colonial-period deposit was identified 15–20 inches below the surface along segments of the proposed 36-inch-wide storm drain impact area. A stone alignment believed to represent a portion of the original mission wall and Spanish colonial-period artifacts were identified in a zone 25–35 inches below the surface within the southeast gateway. Based on this information, the present data recovery project was designed. Nine 4-x-4-ft units and one 6-x-6-ft unit were excavated along the expanse of the drainage trench within the compound and gateway proper. Nine shovel tests and three backhoe trenches were also dug along the portion of the proposed pipeline outside the mission walls where previous investigations revealed the presence of post-1900 activities (Hard et al. 1995). This work resulted in the recovery of ceramics, lithics, and faunal remains from relatively undisturbed Spanish colonial context as well as cultural material from nineteenth- and twentieth-century occupations. During excavation, portions of the original exterior and interior walls of the mission compound were discovered. Construction plans were altered to preserve these exposed sections of the wall

Evaluation of Archaeological Material from the Little Church of La Villita Property, San Antonio, Texas

On June 25th, 1993, Dale Bransford of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department brought several bone fragments to the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). These bones had been discovered by workmen installing a French drain along the east side of the Little Church of La V ill ita in downtown San Antonio. Inspection identified the bones as human, so CAR staff members visited the site to investigate and collect other remains. No excavation was attempted. Subsequent skeletal analysis revealed the presence of at least two individuals in the collection. Because of the absence of diagnostic artifacts, a sample of bone was sent for accelerator dating. The resulting date of 380 ± 60 B.P. (Beta-67731 AMS-9901) suggests that these remains are those of at least two late prehistoric or proto historic occupants of south central Texas. The Delta13 C value of the bone indicates a dietary regime which emphasized C4-based food sources, in this case probably bison

Risk of suicide during treatment with venlafaxine, italopram, fluoxetine, and dothiepin : retrospective cohort study

Objective To compare the risk of suicide in adults usingthe antidepressant venlafaxine compared with citalopram, fluoxetine, and dothiepin. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting UK General Practice Research Database. Participants 219 088 patients, aged 18-89 years, who were prescribed venlafaxine, citalopram, fluoxetine, or dothiepin from 1995 to 2005. Main outcome measures Completed suicide and attempted suicide. Results Venlafaxine users had a higher burden of risk factors for suicide, includingprevious suicide attempts and proxies for severe depression or depression that was difficult to treat. In the analysis for completed suicides, unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios for venlafaxine compared with citalopram were 2.44 (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 5.31) and 1.70 (0.76 to 3.80), for venlafaxine compared with fluoxetine were 2.85 (1.37 to 5.94) and 1.63 (0.74 to 3.59), and for venlafaxine compared with dothiepin were 2.54 (1.07 to 6.02) and 1.31 (0.53 to 3.25). Compared with other study drugs, venlafaxine was also associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide, but adjustment for measured confounders substantially reduced the hazard ratios. Conclusions Venlafaxine use was consistently associated with higher risk of suicide compared with citalopram, fluoxetine, and dothiepin. Venlafaxine users had a higher burden of suicide risk factors, however, and adjustment for measured confounders substantially reduced the excess risks. Since the secondary data used in this analysis allowed only indirect and partial measurements of potential confounders, it is possible that residual confounding explains much, if not all, of the observed excess risk

Excavation in a Historic Cemetery Milam Park Renovation Phase II

Phase n of archaeological investigations at Milam Park in downtown San Antonio, Texas, were conducted by staff members from the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio. This project consisted of shovel tests and monitoring of all excavations connected with construction and renovation activities at the park. Shovel tests were dug prior to ground alterations to assess the amount of recent fill dirt covering the historic surface of the park. The assessment allowed identification of areas of the park that might be sensitive to construction impact. This information was used by the San Antonio Department of Parks and Recreation in planning new landscape features. Additionally, because Milam Park had once been a city cemetery, all ground leveling and grading operations, all new sewer and electric line trenching activities, and all light standard and tree planting excavations were monitored by CAR staff. One historic burial was encountered, exhumed, and analyzed

Archaeological Monitoring for the City of San Antonio: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Expansion

In 1997, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological investigations for the city of San Antonio in conjunction with construction activities for the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center Expansion Project in downtown San Antonio. This project included monitoring of mechanical excavations, Gradall testing in selected areas, and mitigating one structure foundation. Through these efforts, 25 post -1850 historic features were identified and recorded

Historic Overview and Archival Archaeological Investigations for the San Antonio River Improvements Project: Houston to Lexington Segment

In April 1999, the Centre for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) provided archival research and assessment of the Houston Street to Lexington Avenue portion of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. This undertaking enabled archival research to precede the initiation of the San Antonio River Improvements Project in order to identify areas of potentially significant cultural resources within the project area. In this capacity, CAR served as consultants to PBS&J, Engineering and Environmental Consulting for their client, the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), on the San Antonio River Improvements Project (Houston Street to Lexington Avenue) Environmental/Historical Services. The scope of the archaeological research and assessment was performed under Texas Historical Commission Permit Number 2181. The process included a thorough search of archival records documenting historic land use and ownership, documentation and assessments of the presence and location of historic structures and/or cultural deposits. The archival portion includes the integration of archaeological information with engineering and architectural plans to identify areas of potentially significant, intact, cultural resources within the project area and report on same. Two historic sites were identified and recorded during site inspection visits. One site, recorded as 41BX1369, is the historic location of the ca. 1866 Laux Mill and Dam currently incorporated within the Hugman water feature, just north of Travis Street. The second site, recorded as 41BX1370, is an artifact deposit in the pilot channel beneath the Travis Street Bridge, thought to be associated with the 1842 Jaques home. Recommendations for avoidance or monitoring of improvements in these specific areas, in addition to recommendations for monitoring all other subsurface disturbances, were made

Archaeological Monitoring for San Antonio Water Systems: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Expansion

In 1997 the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted archaeological investigations for San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) in conjunction with sewer and water-line installations for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Expansion Project in downtown San Antonio. Gradall trenching was used to test portions of the proposed route of a 60-inch sanitary-sewer line being installed in connection with the construction project. Excavation for the sewer line and for an additional 8-inch water main within HemisFair Park were periodically monitored. Although three late-nineteenth-or early-twentieth century features were encountered, no pre-1850 deposits were impacted by this utility installation project

Archaeological Survey of Upper Leon Creek Terraces, Bexar County, Texas

In June and July 1994, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) conducted an archaeological survey on a 147-acre tract of land along Leon Creek in northern San Antonio for Pape-Dawson Engineers. The archaeological work was needed for compliance with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers permit requirements before construction of a water storage facility. Four archaeological sites (41BX40, 4IBX47 , 4IBX48, and 4IBX50) had been recorded within this area in 1970 by avocational archaeologists. Additionally, CAR staff members conducted a brief reconnaissance over a 60-acre portion of the property in 1992. Fieldwork consisted of pedestrian survey, 222 shovel tests, one 1-x-1-m test unit, backhoe trenches, plowing, and a geomorphological study by Lee Nordt of Texas A&M University. Evidence from this work suggests that two of the previously recorded sites, 4IBX40 and 4IBX47, are actually part of a single, largely intact, Early and Middle Archaic period site covering approximately 30 acres of the project area. The single site will retain the trinomial 4IBX47. The site contains three components: a Middle Archaic one in the upper 50 cm of the northern part of the site; an Early Archaic component, also in the upper 50 cm, found in the western part of the site; and a component of unknown age buried approximately 80-120 cm below the surface in the central part of the site. A transitional Archaic projectile point was found outside the boundaries of 4IBX47. Further investigation of this site is recommended before construction of the water storage facility. A series of simulated sampling experiments was also conducted with the shovel test data to evaluate the effectiveness of different sampling designs