Archeological Investigation including Pedestrian Survey and Backhoe Trenching of the Hufsmith-Kohrville Road Widening and Associated Features project, in Harris County, Texas

From July 25-27 and July 31-August 3, 2017, Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc. (MAC), conducted an archeological investigation, involving both intensive pedestrian survey and deep reconnaissance (backhoe trenching) of a road widening and associated structures, located in north Harris County, Texas. The proposed development will involve multiple elements, including widening a segment of the existing Hufsmith-Kohrville Road between Ezekiel Road and Holderreith Road (including an expanded bridge crossing over Willow Creek), the widening of the north side of Boudreaux Road, west of HufsmithKohrville Road for a drainage conduit and outfall to a ditch, and which will include rightof-way for an outfall structure north of Willow Creek. As well, a detention basin will be excavated, located immediately south of Willow Creek and east of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road. The expected depth of disturbance is currently unknown, but is expected to be deep (i.e. greater than 1 meter [3 ft.]. The project will be completed through the Harris County Infrastructure Department. The objectives of the investigation were to locate and identify cultural materials, sites, or historic properties within the proposed impact area, and to prepare management recommendations regarding any identified resources. The investigations (MAC PN 14- 65) were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 8104. An intensive pedestrian field survey of the project areas was conducted, and included both surface and subsurface (shovel test) examination. A total of 67 shovel tests were excavated within project area boundaries (64 along the linear elements and three in the detention basin locales). Additionally, eight backhoe trenches were also excavated, in order to check for deeply-buried cultural remains; three on the north side of Willow Creek and east of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road, and two on the east side of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road and south of Willow Creek, and three within the proposed detention basin boundaries. Each trench was profiled, and a 50 cm x 50 cm column of soil from two trenches in the detention basin and two of the trenches near the bridge crossing were hand screened. Columns were excavated from Trenches #1, #3, #4, and #8. No evidence of archeological or historic remains was identified. Consequently, no additional archeological investigations are recommended. In the event that archeological deposits or features should be encountered during construction, work should cease in the immediate vicinity and the Archeology Division of the Texas Historical Commission contacted for further consultation. Eleanor Stoddart served as Principal Investigator for this project, August Costa, Ph.D served as Geoarcheologist, and Randy Ferguson was Project Archeologist. Field Technicians included Alejandro Castillo, Tom Nuckols and Rachel Goings. Paper records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas-San Antonio