Houston Area Geoarcheology: A Framework for Archeological Investigation, Interpretation, and Cultural Resource Management in the Houston Highway District

Abstract

This report represents an examination of geoarcheological issues affecting a six county area in the vicinity of Houston, Texas. The study area includes Harris, Montgomery, Waller, Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties (Figure 1), which collectively make up the Houston District, a regional administrative entity of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This study represents the first phase of a district-focused geoarcheological program being implemented at TxDOT, with similar studies of other districts to follow . It is intended to familiarize archeologists working in the region with relevant geoarcheological issues, thus serving as a resource for researchers involved in prospection, assessment, and interpretation of prehistoric archeological sites. Although the focus of investigation is on the six counties making up the Houston District, most of the issues addressed are equally applicable to adjacent areas of the upper Texas Gulf Coastal Plain.