Archaeological Investigations at the John W. Coulter Residence (41BZ151) in Brazos County, Texas
Abstract
Archaeological investigations at the John W. Coulter residence in Bryan, Texas was performed by Brazos Valley Research Associates (BVRA) of Bryan, Texas in September 2001 at the request of the City of Bryan. The work was performed under Antiquities Permit 2694 with William E. Moore the Principal Investigator. This study involved mechanical stripping of an area with a gradall to expose the subsurface where pre-1870 historic features might be present. The potential of such features is based on the presence of a 19th century structure on the property that may have been constructed between 1867 and 1870.
This investigation revealed the presence of "plow scars." These scars were observed to be oriented at 40 degrees east of north, a pattern not consistent with the current orientation of the city block as currently platted. This indicates that the area was cultivated prior to platting at the City of Bryan and prior to construction of the original John W. Coulter residence in the 19th century.
One historic feature, a small, amorphous trash dump containing glass, metal, ceramics, brick, and animal bone was observed as a result of this investigation. The artifacts in this shallow, amorphous deposit date to the early 20th century. They were not collected.
It is concluded that the area examined was probably used as a pasture throughout the occupation of this site. This use, apparently post-dating cultivation of the tract, is confirmed by a verbal description of the block by an earlier resident of the area. This informant stated that part of the current project area was used as pasture for a cow. There was a small pond in the pasture area, but its location has not been identified.
Copies of the report are on file at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL), the Texas Historical Commission, Archeology Division, and the Texas Department of Transportation in Austin Texas, and BVRA in Bryan, Texas.
Subject
archaeologyarcheology
Texas archaeology
Texas archeology
archaeological reports for Texas
archeological reports for Texas
genealogy
Brazos County, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Collections
Citation
Moore, William (2015). Archaeological Investigations at the John W. Coulter Residence (41BZ151) in Brazos County, Texas. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /154362.