The archaeological studies in the Richland Creek Reservoir area are a good example of [conservation archaeology] in action. This report explains what the Richland Creek Archaeological Project (RCAP) is, how it works, and what it has accomplished thus far. Above all, the report tries to show why conservation of our archaeological heritage is important to us all, and to future generations.
A series of archaeological studies are planned for the Richland-Chambers Dam and Reservoir area near Corsicana, Texas ([Figure 1]). The first phase of those studies was carried out during 1980-81. The Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number 1, developer of the Reservoir, employed Southern Methodist University[2] to conduct archaeological studies. Like other construction projects requiring state and federal permits, the Reservoir cannot be completed unless state and federal laws pertaining to archaeological and historical [sites] are adhered to. Since 1906, several federal and state laws have been enacted to protect important archaeological sites. Particularly during the last two decades, these laws have defined archaeological remains as an important cultural resource that should be conserved for future generations.
In recent decades legislators and the public have come to realize that the expansion of our urban-industrial society is rapidly destroying the archaeological resources of the country. In many regions of the United States this destruction has reached crisis proportions. Experts point out that within another generation, given current rates of resource destruction from industry, agriculture, and other land-modification projects, intact archaeological resources will virtually cease to exist within large areas of the nation.
Archaeological resources are fragile and nonrenewable. Much of the scientific value of archaeological resources is lost if they cannot be studied in an undisturbed [context]. Objects excavated from a [site] have little meaning unless they can be related to specific soil layers ([stratigraphy]) and other evidence of former activities of people, such as hearths, trash deposits, house remains and other [features]. Any activity that disturbs the soil may destroy this context.
Fig. 1. Richland-Chambers Dam and Reservoir, Navarro and Freestone Counties, Texas.
RICHLAND-CHAMBERS DAM Chambers Creek Richland Creek Trinity River NAVARRO COUNTY CORSICANA NAVARRO RICHLAND FREESTONE COUNTY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 45 US HIGHWAY 287 US HIGHWAY 75
The primary objective of archaeologists working in [cultural resource management] is archaeological conservation. As in the case of other non-renewable natural resources, the emphasis is on resource preservation. In the case of archaeological [sites], that means digging as a last resort. The first priority of the conservation [archaeologist] is to preserve in an intact state a reasonable number of archaeological sites for future generations of scientists and the public. Sometimes sites can be preserved by selecting a construction design which avoids them. In other instances adverse impact is unavoidable—a case in which excavations are carried out to recover scientific information contained in the sites prior to their destruction. Recovery of this information is one way of conserving the resource. Preservation through [data recovery] will be required in the Reservoir, and will be the focus of work in years to come.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS AT WORK
One way of understanding the RCAP is to look at how archaeologists work. People frequently ask what is an archaeological [site]? How do you find sites? How do you excavate and what do you look for? What do you do with the things that you collect?