Archaeological and Paleontological Investigations
San Jacinto County has a sparse but informative archaeological and paleontological record. Dense vegetation, extensive private land ownership, oil/gas development, and the 1969 inundation of large areas by Lake Livingston (Trinity River Authority dam) have limited investigations. Known work primarily stems from federal/state-mandated salvage projects (1960s reservoir), transportation-related excavations (1970s), cultural resource management (CRM) surveys for pipelines and wells, and mid-20th-century paleontological collecting. Prehistoric occupations emphasize Late Archaic to Early Ceramic/Woodland periods (Mossy Grove tradition), with historic Native American (Alabama-Coushatta/Koasati) components. Paleontological finds focus on Miocene vertebrates from the Fleming and Lagarto formations.This expanded summary incorporates additional details from primary reports, academic publications, and museum records for comprehensiveness. Artifact dispositions are emphasized, as most archaeological materials from state/federal projects are curated at approved repositories under the Texas Antiquities Code.

Major Archaeological Investigations 1960s Salvage Archaeology for Livingston Reservoir (Lake Livingston)

The most extensive county-wide work occurred under the Texas Archeological Salvage Project (TASP, University of Texas at Austin), funded by the National Park Service, in anticipation of reservoir inundation affecting Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker counties.  Timeline: Surveys from 1963; intensive testing/excavations 1965–1966.
Key Sites in San Jacinto County: Limited but documented components at sites like Trichel (41SJ16, tested 1965) and Houston (41SJ19). Broader reservoir sites (e.g., Jones Hill, 41PK8, primarily Polk County) provide regional context for Mossy Grove occupations.

Findings: Late Archaic (ca. 2000 B.C.–A.D. 500) to Neo-American/Woodland (ca. A.D. 500–1200) artifacts, including sandy paste Goose Creek pottery (plain/incised), Gary/Kent dart points, arrow points, lithic tools, hearths, rock/clay features, and burials (e.g., infant cremations).

Cultural Affiliation: Foraging societies ancestral to Atakapan-speaking groups (e.g., Akokisa, Bidai); Mossy Grove tradition emphasizing early ceramics for improved cooking efficiency without agriculture.

Primary Report: McClurkan, Burney B. 1968. Livingston Reservoir, 1965–1966: Late Archaic and Neo-American Occupations. Papers of the Texas Archeological Salvage Project, No. 12.
Significance: First professional large-scale work in the region; documented multi-component sites now submerged.

Strawberry Hill Site (41SJ160)  One of the few fully excavated prehistoric sites in the county.  Excavation: 1974 by Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (TxDOT precursor) ahead of FM 2693 expansion near Winters Bayou.
Details: Contiguous block excavations (seven 10x10 ft units, plus extensions); deposits to ~35–40 cm depth. Three pit features (diameters ~50–120 cm) with organic staining, burned clay, and artifacts; one with post mold.

Key Findings:Ceramics: 1,834 sherds (>1.5 cm) + 966 sherdlets; dominated by sandy paste Goose Creek Plain (74–80%, often hematite inclusions); minority grog-tempered (16.9%), grog-sandy (7.8%), bone-tempered (0.4%). Decorations rare (<3%): incised, brushed (e.g., Bullard Brushed), punctated, engraved (e.g., Poynor Engraved, Maydelle Incised). Vessel forms: jars/bowls; ~10 sherds with drilled repair/suspension holes.
Lithics: Gary/Kent dart points (Woodland); Catahoula/Colbert arrow points (Late Prehistoric); debris and tools.
Burned Clay: 61 pieces, evidence of hearths/ovens.
Additional collections: Small surface samples (e.g., Bill Moore 1975: 3 sherds).

Cultural Affiliation: Primary Mossy Grove (Early Ceramic/Woodland, ca. 2000–1000 B.P.); post-A.D. 900 ancestral Caddo influences via grog-tempered trade wares.
Reports: Keller and Weir 1979 (original); Perttula 2018 reanalysis (Houston Archeological Society Report No. 31).
Significance: Detailed ceramic typology for Mossy Grove; evidence of technological shifts and regional interactions.

Arthur Patterson Site (41SJ67)  Excavation: 1969 by Texas State Building Commission/TASP.
Details: Mid-19th century historic Native American site; three burials excavated.
Key Findings: Glass trade beads (thousands), silver brooches, pottery, stone tools; evidence of Alabama-Coushatta/Koasati acculturation (ca. 1840–1870).
Cultural Affiliation: Alabama-Coushatta (Koasati) post-removal period.
Report: Hsu, Dick Ping. 1969. The Arthur Patterson Site: A Mid-Nineteenth Century Site, San Jacinto County, Texas. Archeological Survey Report 5.
Significance: Rare documentation of post-contact Native material culture in the county.
Frick Collection specimens (e.g., Trinity River Pit 1 horses, rhinos, beavers): Housed at American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), New York, in Frick Laboratory vertebrate paleontology collections. Cataloged with F:AM accession numbers; referenced in numerous publications.

Other Investigations  Limited CRM surveys (e.g., Famcor/Royal Oil pipelines; TxDOT projects) identified scattered prehistoric lithics/ceramics and historic sites, but few excavations beyond Strawberry Hill. Coushatta Trace areas have historic markers but minimal formal digs.Site/Trinomial

Period	Investigation	Key Artifacts	Cultural Affiliation
Trichel (41SJ16)	Late Archaic–Woodland 1965 testing (TASP)	Goose Creek pottery, dart points	Mossy Grove
Houston (41SJ19)	Multi-component  1965–66 (TASP)	Ceramics, lithics, features	Mossy Grove/Atakapan ancestors
Strawberry Hill (41SJ160)	Woodland–Late Prehistoric  1974 excavation (TxDOT)	2,800+ ceramic sherds, points, burned clay	Mossy Grove with Caddo influences
Arthur Patterson (41SJ67)	Historic (mid-19th c.)  1969 excavation	Trade beads, brooches, pottery	Alabama-Coushatta/Koasati
Miocene (ca. 20–15 Ma, Arikareean–Barstovian)	Trinity River Pit 1	Horses (Cormohipparion goorisi, type locality), rhinoceroses, proboscideans, entelodonts, beavers (Amblycastor), amphibians.	Prehistoric
Cold Spring/Oakhurst/Bennett Farm	Various finding in local area	Rare amphibian skull, rhinoceros, Dinohyus, horses	Prehistoric
Childs Frick Expedition/CollectionsChilds Frick (1883–1965)	Frick Laboratory fieldwork (1920s–1960s) via American Museum of Natural History	Diverse Miocene Gulf Coastal fauna	Prehistoric

Artifact and Fossil Disposition/RepositoriesArchaeological Artifacts:
Majority from TASP (Livingston salvage), TxDOT (Strawberry Hill), and state projects: Curated at Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL), University of Texas at Austin. This includes ceramics, lithics, and features from 41SJ160 (full assemblage), 41SJ16/19, and likely 41SJ67 burials/artifacts (pre-NAGPRA; human remains disposition per modern consultation if applicable).
Small samples: Houston Archeological Society collections or private (e.g., Bill Moore surface finds, later analyzed).
Protected under Texas Antiquities Code; access for research via TARL.


Submerged Sites and Recovery Efforts in Lake Livingston
Pre-1969 salvage excavated/documented terrestrial sites; no large-scale professional underwater archaeology or permitted recovery dives post-inundation identified in records. Occasional amateur diver recoveries of artifacts (points, pottery) reported anecdotally, but unprotected submerged resources require Texas Historical Commission permits. No systematic scuba-based projects documented.  Key repositories (TARL for archaeology; AMNH for paleontology) hold materials for ongoing study. Recommend collaboration with TARL/AMNH for exhibits, tribal consultation (Alabama-Coushatta), and future CRM monitoring.Sources: Primary reports (McClurkan 1968; Hsu 1969; Perttula 2018); AMNH Frick records; academic publications (e.g., Palaeontologia Electronica).