43-639: Hill Country State Natural Area ( HCSNA ) preserves 5,369 acres (21.73 km) of rugged, relatively pristine Hill Country terrain in Bandera County , Texas . It was opened to the public in 1984. Since HCSNA is designated a "Natural Area" rather than a "State Park", the first priority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the maintenance and preservation of the property's natural state. Accordingly, facilities are purposely somewhat primitive and recreational activities may be curtailed if
86-468: A natural area , the site is deliberately left largely undeveloped and natural, relative to a typical state park. Camping is limited to nine walk-in campsites , three small hike-in camping areas, and five equestrian campsites with horse pens. The campsites and camping areas lack sewer, electric, and potable water hookups. There is a group lodge with electric hookups, but it also lacks potable water. Texas Hill Country The Texas Hill Country
129-769: A century following Reconstruction , the core of the Hill Country generally provided the solitary support base for the Republican Party in what became a one-party Democratic state. Even when no Republicans were in the Texas Legislature during the 1930s and 1940s, Gillespie and Kendall Counties backed every Republican presidential nominee barring Herbert Hoover ’s failed 1932 re-election campaign, and Republicans continued to control local government. Guadalupe and Comal Counties were less Republican, but still did not vote for Democratic nominees outside
172-427: A chronological timeline for past occurrences at the site. Modern archaeologists take care to distinguish material culture from ethnicity , which is often more complex, as expressed by Carol Kramer in the dictum "pots are not people." Artifact analysis is determined by what type of artifact is being examined, the best. Lithic analysis refers to analyzing artifacts that are created with stones and are often in
215-415: A chronological timeline is a crucial part of artifact analysis. The different types of analyses above can all assist in the process of artifact dating. The major types of dating include relative dating , historical dating and typology . Relative dating occurs when artifacts are placed in a specific order in relation to one another while historical dating occurs for periods of written evidence; relative dating
258-474: A distinctively Texan culture separate from the state's Southern and Southwestern influences. For example, the accordion was popularized in Tejano music in the 19th century due to cultural exposure to German settlers. Devil's Backbone is an elevated, winding stretch of Ranch to Market Road 12 between San Marcos and Wimberley , then Ranch to Market Road 32 continuing through to Blanco . It has long been
301-499: A further 616 acres (2.49 km) were acquired, bringing the total size to the current 5,369 acres (21.73 km). HCSNA has over 40 miles (64 km) of multi-use trails and permits hiking, biking and horseback riding. Equestrian facilities are available. Several dude ranches adjoin the property and regularly lead hikes and trail rides through the Natural Area. The picturesque, but intermittent, West Verde Creek runs through
344-762: A limestone. HCSNA supports eight recognized plant community types and over 450 plant species. The majority of the preserve is covered by woodlands of Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) and Ashe juniper ( Juniperus ashei ), commonly called "mountain cedar", live oak savannah , Texas red oak ( Quercus buckleyi ) woodlands, and open grasslands composed primarily of sideoats grama ( Bouteloua curtipendula ) and little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ). Smaller communities include stands of Lacey oak ( Quercus laceyi ), pecan ( Carya illinoinensis )-sugarberry ( Celtis laevigata ) groves, and gramagrass-switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) grasslands, as well as fields of sotol ( Dasylirion wheeleri ). The natural vegetation of
387-513: A part of material culture . Artifacts can come from any archaeological context or source such as: Examples include stone tools , pottery vessels, metal objects such as weapons and items of personal adornment such as buttons , jewelry and clothing. Bones that show signs of human modification are also examples. Natural objects, such as fire cracked rocks from a hearth or plant material used for food, are classified by archaeologists as ecofacts rather than as artifacts. Artifacts exist as
430-408: A result of behavioral and transformational processes. A behavioral process involves acquiring raw materials , manufacturing these for a specific purpose and then discarding after use. Transformational processes begin at the end of behavioral processes; this is when the artifact is changed by nature and/or humans after it has been deposited. Both of these processes are significant factors in evaluating
473-567: Is a geographic region of Central and South Texas , forming the southeast part of the Edwards Plateau . Given its location, climate, terrain, and vegetation, the Hill Country can be considered the border between the American Southeast and Southwest . The region represents the very remote rural countryside of Central Texas, but also is home to growing suburban neighborhoods and affluent retirement communities. The region
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#1732771896618516-738: Is defined as an object recovered by archaeological endeavor, including cultural artifacts (of cultural interest). "Artifact" is the general term used in archaeology, while in museums the equivalent general term is normally "object", and in art history perhaps artwork or a more specific term such as "carving". The same item may be called all or any of these in different contexts, and more specific terms will be used when talking about individual objects, or groups of similar ones. Artifacts exist in many different forms and can sometimes be confused with ecofacts and features ; all three of these can sometimes be found together at archaeological sites. They can also exist in different types of context depending on
559-582: Is notable for its karst topography and tall rugged hills of limestone or granite . Many of the hills rise to a height of 400–500 ft (120–150 m) above the surrounding plains and valleys, with Packsaddle Mountain rising to a height of 800 ft (240 m) above the Llano River in Kingsland . The Hill Country also includes the Llano Uplift and the second-largest granite dome in
602-442: Is when artifacts are dug up from sites and collected in private or sold before they are able to be excavated and analyzed through formal scientific archaeology. The debate is centered around the difference in beliefs between collectors and archaeologists. Archaeologists are focused on excavation, context and lab work when it comes to artifacts, while collectors are motivated by varying personal desires. This brings many to ask themselves
645-801: Is where the Southern United States ends and the Southwestern United States begins. Several tributaries of the Colorado River in Texas—including the Llano and Pedernales Rivers, which cross the region west to east and join the Colorado as it cuts across the region to the southeast—drain a large portion of the Hill Country. The Guadalupe , San Antonio , Frio , Medina , and Nueces Rivers originate in
688-510: The black-capped vireo ( Vireo atricapilla ). As in much of the Hill Country, white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) are by far the most common large mammal on the property. Wild turkeys, armadillos, skunks, raccoons, opossums, cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, and fox squirrels are also present. Feral pigs, exotic fallow and axis deer, porcupines, rock squirrels, and ringtailed cats can occasionally be encountered. Bobcats, coyotes, both red and grey foxes, and rarely, mountain lions, inhabit
731-413: The context of an artifact. The context of an artifact can be broken into two categories: primary context and secondary context. A matrix is a physical setting within which an artifact exists, and a provenience refers to a specific location within a matrix. When an artifact is found in the realm of primary context, the matrix and provenience have not been changed by transformational processes. However,
774-472: The 1912, 1932, 1936, and 1964 landslides. The region was also the only one in antebellum slave states to back the insurgent candidacy of Robert La Follette in 1924 ; in fact, Comal was La Follette’s top county in the nation with 73.96% of the vote, and Gillespie and Comal were the only counties south of the Mason–Dixon line to give a plurality to his “ Progressive ” ticket. Because of its karst topography,
817-600: The Balcones escarpment and within the Balcones Fault Zone . The elevation ranges from approximately 1,280 to 2,000 feet (390 to 610 m). The local Woodard Cave Fault runs through the property on a general east-west line. The terrain of the area consists of eroded limestone hills and mesas , which are typical landforms of the Hill Country . There are also relatively flat bottomland areas surrounding
860-562: The Bar-O Ranch, several parcels of land were subsequently donated by Louise Merrick between 1976 and 1982 to establish the Hill Country State Natural Area. Merrick stipulated that the property was “to be kept far removed and untouched by modern civilization, where everything is preserved intact, yet put to a useful purpose”. The preserve was opened to the public in 1984 with 4,753 acres (19.23 km). In 1986
903-463: The Hill Country. This region is a dividing line for certain species occurrence. For example, the California fan palm ( Washingtonia filifera ) is the only species of palm tree that is native to the continental United States west of the Hill Country's Balcones Fault. The area experiences a fusion of English , Spanish , and German influences in food, beer, architecture, and music that form
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#1732771896618946-550: The TPWD deems it necessary to protect the environment. Hill Country State Natural Area is located on the border of Bandera County and Medina County , approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Bandera , 20 miles (32 km) north of Hondo , and 45 miles (72 km) west-northwest of San Antonio . Set in the scenic hills and canyons typical of the Texas Hill Country, the preserve lies about ten miles north of
989-558: The United States, Enchanted Rock . The terrain throughout the region is characterized by a thin layer of topsoil and many exposed rocks and boulders, making the region very dry and prone to flash flooding . Native vegetation in the region includes various yucca , prickly pear cactus , desert spoon , and wildflowers in the Llano Uplift. The predominant trees in the region are Ashe juniper and Texas live oak . Bound on
1032-538: The archaeological question, "Who owns the past?" There are also ethical issues over the display of artifacts in museums which have been taken from other countries in questionable circumstances, for example the display of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles by the British Museum . The display of objects belonging to indigenous peoples of non-European countries by European museums – particularly those taken during
1075-576: The area also features a number of caverns, such as Inner Space Caverns , Natural Bridge Caverns , Bracken Cave , Longhorn Cavern State Park , Cascade Caverns , Caverns of Sonora and Cave Without a Name . The deeper caverns of the area form several aquifers , which serve as a source of drinking water for its residents. Wonder Cave in San Marcos was formed by an earthquake along the Balcones Fault. From east to west, Texas Hill Country
1118-425: The area, but are seldom seen by visitors. The land within the preserve has been inhabited for several thousand years, and a number of Native American artifacts have been found on the property, including human remains. After the arrival of European settlers in the mid-1800s, the area became part of a working ranch. The bottomlands were converted to cropland and the remainder was used for grazing. Eventually becoming
1161-530: The areas: Texas Hill Country AVA , Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA , and Bell Mountain AVA . Artifact (archaeology) An artifact or artefact ( British English ) is a general term for an item made or given shape by humans, such as a tool or a work of art, especially an object of archaeological interest. In archaeology , the word has become a term of particular nuance; it
1204-407: The differences between actual human-made lithic artifact and geofacts – naturally occurring lithics that resemble human-made tools. It is possible to authenticate artifacts by examining the general characteristics attributed to human-made tools and local characteristics of the site. Artifacts, features and ecofacts can all be located together at sites. Sites may include different arrangements of
1247-445: The distribution of goods. The following lab techniques all contribute to the process of lithic analysis: petrographic analysis, neutron activation , x-ray fluorescence , particle-induced x-ray emission , individual flake analysis and mass analysis. Another type of artifact analysis is ceramic analysis, which is based around the archaeological study of pottery . This type of analysis can help archaeologists gain information on
1290-614: The east by the Balcones Escarpment , the Hill Country reaches into the far northern portions of San Antonio and western portions of Travis County including the cities of Austin and Lago Vista . As a result of springs discharging water stored in the Edwards Aquifer , several cities such as Austin, San Marcos , and New Braunfels were settled at the base of the Balcones Escarpment. As of 2016 ,
1333-442: The form of animal remains. Just as with lithic artifacts, faunal remains are extremely common within the field of archaeology. Faunal analysis provides insight to trade due to animals being exchanged in different markets over time and being traded over long distances. Faunal remains can also provide information on social status, ethnic distinctions and dieting from previous complex societies . Dating artifacts and providing them with
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1376-577: The form of tools. Stone artifacts occur often throughout prehistoric times and are, therefore, a crucial aspect in answering archaeological questions about the past. On the surface, lithic artifacts can help archaeologists study how technology has developed throughout history by showing a variety of tools and manufacturing techniques from different periods of time. However, even deeper questions can be answered through this type of analysis; these questions can revolve around topics that include how societies were organized and structured in terms of socialization and
1419-922: The matrix and provenience are changed by transformational processes when referring to secondary context. Artifacts exist in both contexts, and this is taken into account during the analysis of them. Another important type of context for archeologists, particularly from an art history perspective, is the term provenance , or the more general history of an artifact's ownership, location, and importance. Artifacts are distinguished from stratigraphic features and ecofacts. Stratigraphic features are non-portable remains of human activity that include hearths , roads , deposits, trenches and similar remains. Ecofacts , also referred to as biofacts, are objects of archaeological interest made by other organisms, such as seeds or animal bone . Natural objects that humans have moved but not changed are called manuports . Examples include seashells moved inland or rounded pebbles placed away from
1462-682: The preserve, allowing for swimming and fishing when water levels are high enough. For herd management purposes, TPWD conducts controlled deer hunting by a limited number of hunters during a few weekends each season. HCSNA also hosts the annual Bandera 100 km ultramarathon run in January HCSNA urges all visitors to respect the "Leave No Trace" set of wilderness ethics: plan ahead and prepare; travel on marked trails only; always dispose of waste properly; leave behind what you find; never build an open fire ; respect wildlife; and be considerate of other visitors. Consistent with its designation as
1505-725: The processes that have acted on them over time. A wide variety of analyses take place to analyze artifacts and provide information on them. However, the process of analyzing artifacts through scientific archaeology can be hindered by the looting and collecting of artifacts, which sparks ethical debate. From the emergence of the Hominids in the Stone Age , humanity has developed a handful of artifacts through time and place. There are archaeological sites and museums that obtain artifacts for physical evidence through past traces of civilizations, as well as norms and rituals, where objects attested
1548-431: The property, like much of the Texas Hill Country, has suffered from overgrazing and the introduction of invasive species like exotic King Ranch bluestem ( Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica ). HCSNA affords good opportunities for bird watching. Over 160 species of birds have been sighted in the preserve, including two bird species classified as endangered : the golden-cheeked warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ) and
1591-614: The raw materials that were used and how they were utilized in the creation of pottery. Laboratory techniques that allow for this are mainly based around spectroscopy . The different types of spectroscopy used include atomic absorption , electrothermal atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission and x-ray fluorescence . Ceramic analysis does more than just provide information on raw materials and pottery production; it helps provide insight to past societies in terms of their technology, economy and social structure. Additionally, faunal analysis exists to study artifacts in
1634-625: The region's economy was one of the fastest growing in the United States. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , these 25 counties are included in the Hill Country Wildlife District: During the American Civil War , due to its large, pro-Union, German immigrant population, the Texas Hill Country was opposed to Texas seceding from the Union . Subsequently, in the three quarters of
1677-564: The small creeks that drain the property. The local bedrock is exposed throughout much of the preserve. The highest hilltops, and the lower hills in the southern part of HCSNA, are capped by fairly resistant limestone of the Fort Terret formation within the Edwards Group, which is the dominant bedrock of the Edwards Plateau to the north. The rest of the preserve lies atop the softer, more easily eroded Upper Glen Rose Formation, also
1720-459: The subject of ghost stories. Folklore about it appeared in a 1996 episode of NBC 's Robert Stack anthology series Unsolved Mysteries , featuring apparitional Spanish monks, Comanche , and Lipan Apache tribes , Confederate soldiers on their horses, and a spirit of a wolf. The region has emerged as the center of the Texas wine industry. Three American Viticultural Areas are located in
1763-433: The three; some might include all of them while others might only include one or two. Sites can have clear boundaries in the form of walls and moats , but this is not always the case. Sites can be distinguished through categories, such as location and past functions. How artifacts exist at these sites can provide archaeological insight. An example of this would be utilizing the position and depth of buried artifacts to determine
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1806-411: The water action that made them. These distinctions are often blurred; a bone removed from an animal carcass is a biofact but a bone carved into a useful implement is an artifact. Similarly there can be debate over early stone objects that could be either crude artifact or naturally occurring and happen to resemble early objects made by early humans or Homo sapiens . It can be difficult to distinguish
1849-413: Was the only form of dating for prehistoric periods of time. Typology is the process that groups together artifacts that are similar in material and shape. This strategy is based around the ideas that styles of objects match certain time periods and that these styles change slowly over time. Artifact collecting and looting has sparked heavy debate in the archaeological realm. Looting in archaeological terms
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