Strawberry Hill

The Strawberry Hill Site (41SJ160), in San Jacinto County along the San Jacinto River (~30.5°N, 95.1°W), excavated in the 1970s-1980s by the Texas Department of Transportation. This multi-component site shows occupation from Archaic (ca. 5000 BCE) to Late Prehistoric (ca. AD 1500-1700), with ceramics, lithics, and features potentially linked to Atakapan groups like Patiri or Akokisa.

Also known simply as 41SJ160 in archaeological nomenclature (where "41" denotes Texas, "SJ" San Jacinto County, and "160" the site sequence number), is a prehistoric archaeological site in southeastern Texas. It represents a multi-component occupation spanning the Archaic, Woodland (Early Ceramic), and Late Prehistoric periods, primarily associated with the Mossy Grove cultural tradition, a regional expression of Woodland hunter-gatherer-forager societies in inland Southeast Texas. The site is significant for its large ceramic assemblage, providing insights into ceramic technology adoption, trade networks (e.g., with ancestral Caddo groups), and subsistence patterns in the region. It is considered extinct in terms of active use by the historic period, with no direct ties to modern tribal descendants documented, though ancestral connections to Bidai, Akokisa, Patiri, or Atakapa groups are inferred based on territorial overlap. Population at the site was likely small and seasonal, consisting of kin-based bands (100-400 people aggregating in fall-winter) exploiting local resources.

Historical Context and Cultural Affiliation
The site dates from ca. 9000 B.P. (Archaic) to ca. A.D. 1200-1700 (Late Prehistoric with Caddo influences), with the primary component in the Woodland period (ca. 500 B.C.–A.D. 800). It reflects the Mossy Grove tradition, characterized by semi-sedentary hunter-gatherers who adopted ceramics around 2000-1000 B.P., transitioning from hot rock cooking to vessel-based methods for stews and broths. Artifacts indicate reduced mobility post-Late Archaic, with reliance on local lithic resources and seasonal resource exploitation (e.g., deer, bear, fish, nuts, roots). Post-A.D. 900, influences from East Texas Caddo potters appear, suggesting trade or interaction along riverine networks. The region was historically occupied by Atakapan-speaking groups like the Bidai (north), Akokisa (south), and Patiri, who were semi-nomadic and faced decline from European contact (diseases, displacement) by the 19th century. No historic (post-1700) components are confirmed at the site, but broader regional history includes Spanish missions (1740s-1750s) and Anglo settlement.

Geographical Location and Description
The site is in west central San Jacinto County, southeastern Texas, within the Winters Bayou drainage, a tributary of the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, in the larger Trinity River basin. It occupies a low natural sandy rise (upland landform overlooking stream floodplains or elevated alluvial terraces) at elevations of approximately 200-300 feet above mean sea level (amsl), in a subtropical Piney Woods ecosystem. The area features rolling terrain, dense loblolly pine-hardwood forests (with white oak, beech, magnolia, cedar, walnut, hickory, gum, ash, and pecan), high humidity, abundant rainfall (40-50 inches annually), and wetlands prone to flooding. It lies a few miles north of the historic Big Thicket vegetation zone (a biodiverse region of pine uplands, swamps, bogs, canebrakes, and prairies, now partially preserved in Big Thicket National Preserve to the southeast). The site's position facilitated access to riverine resources for fishing, transportation, and trade, with fertile soils supporting limited maize cultivation in later periods. Nearby landmarks include the Sam Houston National Forest (encompassing much of the county) and proximity to FM 2693 (a rural road running northwest from SH 150) and SH 150, about 11 miles west of Coldspring (county seat). The surrounding area is rural, with modern towns like New Waverly (Walker County, to the west) and Shepherd (San Jacinto County, to the north). Exact coordinates are not publicly disclosed in sources to protect the site from looting, but approximate location based on descriptions and maps is ~30.52°N, 95.25°W (near the San Jacinto-Walker County border, along Winters Bayou's upper reaches).

Excavations and Investigations
Discovered and excavated in 1974 by the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (now Texas Department of Transportation) ahead of FM 2693 expansion. The work involved seven 10x10 ft units in a contiguous block, plus additional smaller units (two 5x5 ft, two 10x5 ft, one 5x20 ft), reaching depths of 35-40 cm below surface. Soil profiles included a plow zone, dark brown sand A/E-horizon, light tan sand, and gray sandy clay B-horizon. Three features were identified: Feature 1 (a 1.2 m diameter pit with a 36 cm post hole, possibly predating the pit); Features 2 and 3 (smaller pits, 50-60 cm diameter) with organic staining and artifacts. Subsequent analyses include ceramic studies (Perttula 2018) and additional artifact reports (Moore and Dockall 1988). The site has been referenced in regional surveys (e.g., Famcor Oil well pads, seismic assistants) as a benchmark for prehistoric occupations in San Jacinto County, though it yielded "little new information" per some early assessments. No recent excavations are documented, but it remains protected under Texas antiquities laws.

Known Findings and ArtifactsThe assemblage includes 1,834 ceramic sherds (>1.5 cm), 966 sherdlets (<1.5 cm), 61 burned clay pieces, lithic debris, chipped stone tools (e.g., Gary/Kent dart points for Woodland, Catahoula/Colbert arrow points for post-A.D. 900), and organic remains. Ceramics dominate: 88% sandy paste (Goose Creek Plain var. unspecified, coiled jars/bowls for cooking/storage); 16.9% grog-tempered (ancestral Caddo wares post-A.D. 900); minor bone/hematite. Firing: varied (reducing, oxidizing, smudged). Decorations (<3%): incised lines (Goose Creek Incised, Maydelle Incised), brushed (Bullard Brushed), engraved (Holly Fine Engraved), punctated, lip-notched, red-slipped. Rims: mostly direct/vertical, orifice 10-22 cm. Ten sherds have drilled holes (for suspension/covers). Comparisons to 24 other Mossy Grove sites show increasing tempered wares post-A.D. 900, linking to Caddo trade. Features suggest hearths, pits, and possible structures (post holes). No burials or major structures noted.

Cultural and Legacy Notes
The site highlights technological shifts (e.g., ceramic adoption) and intergroup exchanges in prehistoric Southeast Texas. Modern legacy includes academic publications (e.g., Houston Archeological Society Report No. 31) and inclusion in regional cultural resource management. Artifacts are curated by TxDOT or institutions like the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory. For further research, consult the Texas Historical Commission, Texas Archeological Sites Atlas (restricted access), or Texas State Historical Association Handbook.