Testing in the southeast section of Site 41nu54 (Fort Lipantitlán), Nueces County, South Texas

Abstract

Site 41NU54 (Fort Lipantitlán/Lipantitlán State Historic Site) is a multi-component archaeological site in rural northwest Nueces County, Texas. Previous surveys and excavations dating from the 1960s to 2008, recollections of various local people, and historical sources all conclusively demonstrate that this is a multi-component site with cultural materials representing occupations related to the south Texas Archaic, Late Prehistoric, historic, and modern periods.

Summer 2009 fieldwork at the Davis Area, the southeast section of 41NU54 produced unexpected results when compared to previous work at the site. Survey and testing provided inconclusive evidence for Late Prehistoric and historic habitation due to a distinct lack of ceramics and the recovery of only one Late Prehistoric diagnostic, a Perdiz point. However, the large amount of lithic debitage recovered during the season indicates that this section of the site probably functioned as an area to process lithic materials during prehistoric occupations. Little else can be assumed until further testing is conducted.