HCAA Blog Articles

General Meeting Announcement for Hill Country Archeological Association – A Zoom Meeting Abstract: Bio: Jenny McWilliams works for the Texas Historical Commission as the Cemetery Preservation Program Coordinator. Her position includes answering inquiries about cemetery law, access issues, cemetery maintenance, preservation, protection and recording. As the Cemetery Program Coordinator, Jenny … Read More

HCAA has joined forces with TAS to conduct the 2021 TAS Field School in Kerrville! The Texas Archeological Society is hosting the 2021 annual Field School on a private ranch just west of Kerrville (TAS 2021 Field School). This private property is 88 acres in size and borders the Guadalupe … Read More

For anyone who missed our January and March General Meetings or just want to view them again, here are our YouTube links:

General Meeting Announcement for Hill Country Archeological Association. A Joint Zoom Meeting with the Houston Archeological Society, on March 20, 2021 Date/Time: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 1:00 pm. Zoom “doors open” at 12:30 pm Presentation Title: The Lone Oak Site: A 12,000 Year Occupation in Northern Colorado County, Texas. Speaker: … Read More

The manager of the Texas Clovis Fluted Point Survey (TCFPS), Alan Slade, at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin (TARL) is asking for help in updating Clovis Point information for the fourth edition of Texas Clovis Fluted Point Survey. They need information on Clovis points that … Read More

For the last two years members of the HCAA have been excavating a fire-cracked rock midden in Kendall county. At the last excavation of 2020 one of the members decided to take some video which he stitched together in this video. While it is intended to be humorous, it actually … Read More

Date/Time: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 7 pm Presentation Title: The Anthropology of Hunting Speaker: Wilson “Dub” Crook Abstract: In his presentation, Dub will discuss hunting tactics for dangerous big game (elephant, mammoth, mastodon, buffalo, bears, big cats), plains game (antelope, deer, elk, caribou), mountain game (sheep, goats, ibex), and small … Read More

The Board invites you to a General Meeting of the Hill Country Archeological Association. We have a great speaker, Dr. Clark Wernecke speaking on the “Peopling of the Americas.” The Zoom Meeting “Doors” will open at 12:30 pm so you can log on to the meeting. The meeting will start … Read More

A number of prehistoric Indian pottery sherds were recently discovered by the Hill Country Archeological Association at two sites in Kerr County. The pottery types are Leon Plain, Doss Red and Caddo. The Leon Plain and Doss Red pottery sherds are typical made by tribes here in the Hill Country … Read More

Attention!!!  A General Meeting and Presentation are planned by the Hill Country Archeological Association for Saturday, November 21, at 1:00 pm.  This will be a Zoom Meeting with Dr. Chris Lintz as Speaker! We will not be meeting in Kerrville due to COVID19! We have a great speaker on obsidian … Read More

The Texas Historical Commission has just posted a YouTube story of our discovery of 14 ancient St Mary’s Hall Points near bison bone and a cooking hearth during excavations in Kerr county. This exciting story is told by Steve Stoutamire and can be viewed by clicking Texas Archeology Month 2020 … Read More

Ever wonder who the early architects were who designed our buildings, fine homes and Courthouses? Well we have a story to tell of a famous English Architect, Alfred Giles. He arrived in Texas in 1873 and lived near Flat Rock Creek northeast of Comfort. He once owned about 13,000 acres … Read More

By appearance and reputation it would seem, at first glance anyway, that it was an easy life for architect Alfred Giles.

Presentation by: Reign Clark, Catrina Whitley, and Ron Ralph This is a fascinating and detailed archeological study of 95 African American convicts buried in a cemetery at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp in Sugarland, Texas (41FB355). These convicts died during forced labor in sugarcane fields in the period from 1875 … Read More

Comanche chief Katemcy is one of the unrecognized champions of the Penateka (Pen-ah-took-uh) Comanches of Texas. Although a subchief under Santa Anna, it was Katemcy who first met with Meusebach in 1847 at the present-day site of Mason, Texas. It was Katemcy who made possible the celebrated treaty between the … Read More

by Joseph Luther3.11.2010 In 1862, General H.P. Bee, commander of all Confederate forces in South Texas, declared Gillespie, Kerr, Kendall, Medina, and Bexar Counties – where the German protests were the strongest – to be “in open rebellion” and, in effect, declared war on them. Robert G. Schulz, Jr. wrote … Read More

In an effort to keep HCAA membership apprised of our association’s current status, following is an update of HCAA field activities: In early March of this year, field work at CWR was suspended due to COVID-19. In early May exploratory efforts were made with a small crew going back out … Read More

May 21, 2020By HCAA In spite of the pandemic and some personal medical issues, we remain active and archeology is going on. This is a short report detailing with our activities for the past year at a new HCAA site. Last summer Dr. John Benedict, Texas Historical Commission Steward, visited … Read More

We were all disappointed when we had to cancel our March HCAA General meeting and Jenny McWilliams’ presentation about “Locating Lost Cemeteries in the Hill Country” due to Covid-19. As Jenny wrote in the abstract for her talk, “archeologists are trained to observe the landscape and look for clues of … Read More

Note!!! An interesting learning opportunity for us starting now!!! The Archeology Channel is hosting the International Film Festival online for the first time in 17 years. The opportunity to view the films will take place between May 13-17th. You will need to register for a virtual ticket, a nominal fee, … Read More

Due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 virus, the board of the Hill Country Archeological Association has canceled the upcoming General Meeting scheduled for next Saturday, March 21st. The board desires to protect its members and visitors from the threat posed by this virus at our public meeting. We … Read More

Be part of our growing organization whose mission and passion is to study and preserve the Texas Hill Country’s prehistoric and historic heritage, and to educate the public about archeology. The Board of Directors is conducting a survey to identify additional volunteers. (If having difficulty submitting survey online, open in … Read More

General Meeting – March 21, 2020 // Locating Lost Cemeteries of the Hill Country

Kerrville Genealogical Society Meeting – January 15, 2020 – Topic: The Neunhoffer Family arrival in the United States and their contributions to our Country, State, and local communities

CWR, A Newly Discovered Paleo Indian and Multicomponent Site In Kerr County, Texas – General Mtg 1-18-2020

HCAA has joined forces with Texas Archeological Society to conduct the 2020 TAS Field School in Kerrville! The Texas Archeological Society has designated the 2020 annual Field School to be on a private ranch just west of Kerrville. This private property is 88 acres in size and borders the Guadalupe River near Bear Creek.

General Mtg, 11/16/19 “Mesoamerican Stone Artifacts: Interesting Rocks & Where to Find them”

Raffle Items – Upcoming Meeting – Sept 21, 2019

General Meeting, September 21, 2019-The Upper Paleolithic of Texas: The Early Human Occupation of the Gault Site

In December 2018, HCAA crew members began to perform hand excavations at CWR, a privately-owned ranch in west Kerr County. Since then we’ve uncovered a remarkably rich trove of artifacts, tools, bones, mussel shells, ochre, charcoal, and items that are not normally sourced (found naturally) in the area . . .

The Creek Shelter Project–HCAA-KR-44 (August 2019)

Historic Caleb Thomas’ Log Cabin Project HCAA KE37 (2018)

Historic African-American Family Cemetery Project HCAA KE38 (2019)

GENERAL MEETING, July 20, 2019 – What Archeobotany Can Tell Us About Ancient Texas (and other places too)

Johann Scherz Homestead and Grave Site Project, September 2018

CWR Fieldwork (June 2019)

Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments. Meeting begins at 1:00 pm. Title: Bonfire Shelter: A Jumping Off Point for Understanding Ancient Americans in West Texas (more info) Speaker: Dr. David Kilby, Associate Professor, Texas State University Abstract:  The Ancient Southwest Texas Project (ASWT) at Texas State University began a new fieldwork initiative … Read More

Bonfire Shelter: A Jumping Off Point for Understanding Ancient Americans in West Texas

LUAS Archaeology Fair, Saturday, March 23, 2019 ***UPDATE***

LUAS Archaeology Fair – March 23, 2019 = UPDATE

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT LUAS Archaeology Fair, Saturday, March 23, 2019 Place: Nightengale Archaeological Center (NAC), 201 Circle Drive, Kingsland, TX 78639 (Learn More)

Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments. Meeting begins at 1:00 pm. Topic: “Connellee Peak (41MY5): A Geographically Aberrant Middle Ceramic Period Mesa Top Community in Motley County, Texas” Speaker: Dr. Christopher Lintz, Research Associate, Texas State University Abstract: The Connellee Peak site is a small mesa top occupation located … Read More

***P.A. System NOW at Meetings!*** Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Meeting begins at 1:00 pm. Topic: “Constructing Power in the Preclassic Maya: Monumental Architecture and Sociopolitical Inequality at Early Xunantunich, Belize” Speaker: Zoe Rawski, Anthropologist, UTSA Abstract:  This research focuses on the origins of sociopolitical inequality and, eventually, … Read More

Location Update on General Meeting, November 17, 2018 Our apologies! We forgot to include the location of the meeting. As usual, our General Meeting will be held at: Place: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Click to see previous post for more details.

***P.A. System NOW at Meetings!*** Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. This Meeting Will Review Our HCAA Site Work: Title: Part 1: Kemosabe: A Rich Multi-Component Site Along The Guadalupe River, Kerr County – Over 7,000 Years Of Archeology Speaker: Steve Stoutamire, Retired Geologist, MS … Read More

Our webmaster, Sharon, sends her apologies for accidentally posting this OLD NEWS – COMMUNITY NEWS – STAA Quarterly Meeting, UTSA, January 28, 2018. The !Oops! happened when doing some site maintenance today. One Oops! in ten years isn’t too bad! Apologies accepted Sharon!

The STAA Quarterly Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the University of Texas at San Antonio located at 15 Paseo Principal, San Antonio, Texas. The meeting will be held in the Travis Room in the H-E-B University Center South Building. Dr. Thomas R. Hester will present … Read More

***P.A. System NOW at Meetings!*** Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Title: “Sorting the Fragments: Osteological Research of Hellenistic to Early Christian Tombs in Cyprus” Speaker: Dr. Nick Herrmann, Associate Professor, Anthropology Dept, Texas State University Place: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Dr. Elton Prewitt, Research Fellow at TARL, University of Texas, Austin Topic: “The Mystery of Painted Pebbles in Prehistoric Cultures” Abstract:  Small painted stones found in dry rockshelters throughout the Lower Pecos Canyonlands have intrigued avocational and professional … Read More

The Hill Country Archeological Association will be giving away to members over 200 Archeology and Anthropology Journals, Books and Reports! You will find something you like here! This collection will be made available starting at 12:30pm this Saturday May 19th, before and after the General Meeting! Take what you like!! … Read More

HCAA awards scholarships on an annual basis through the following program: PAUL SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the 2018 Paul Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund. The awards provide assistance to HCAA members who are attending archeological field school events, conferences, and other activities acceptable to … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Dr. Harry J. Shafer, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University, Curator of Archaeology, Witte Museum Topic: “Bison: Human Predation and Climate Change” Abstract: This talk is about bison predation by prehistoric Indians and climate. Bison were valuable … Read More

Charcoal from a rock hearth feature at Kemosabe is 7280 to 7420 years old based on C14 radiocarbon dating (calibrated). We have discovered 12 other rock hearths and four larger middens at the site, some also having charcoal, however this latest hearth had the best quality charcoal AND an associated … Read More

The Hill Country Archeological Association will be giving away to members over 200 Archeology and Anthropology Journals, Books and Reports! You will find something you like here! This collection will be made available starting at 12:30pm this Saturday March 17th, before and after the General Meeting! Take what you like!! … Read More

GENERAL MEETING, March 17, 2018 Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. 2017 HCAA Ancient Echoes Journal NOW AVAILABLE! All current members will receive a complimentary copy of the latest journal at the March 17, 2018 General Meeting. Those interested in purchasing a copy may … Read More

HCAA March Fieldwork Training is just around the corner! CONTACT STEVE TO SIGN UP TODAY . . . Beginning in March the HCAA will offer a five part course in Field and Lab Techniques. This course has been taught by HCAA since 2009 and is particularly helpful to members who … Read More

****HCAA Contest**** Held at General Meeting January 20, 2018! You are invited to participate in a fun contest and learning experience at our General Meeting on January 20th. This contest is about something we have just learned regarding the HCAA’s Kemosabe Archeology site. This occupational site is approximately 80 acres … Read More

Beginning in March the HCAA will offer a five part course in Field and Lab Techniques. This course has been taught by HCAA since 2009 and is particularly helpful to members who want to do site work. To review the course curriculum, simply click the SUMMARY here. This summary more … Read More

GENERAL MEETING, January 20, 2018 Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Dr. David Maltsberger PhD, Professor, School of Religion and Philosophy, Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio campus Lecture Title: “With My Own Two Hands”: A Survey of Domestic, Military, and Agricultural Lithic Artifacts in … Read More

On the night of November 25th from 5 pm to 8 pm, the Fort will be alive with free music, brats, beer, beans, campfire cooking, fun, and prizes. Starting at 6:30 they will begin drawing for bucket raffles and door prizes on site. The night will culminate with drawing for … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Kat Brown, Associate Professor, UTSA, Anthropology Department   Lecture Title: The Chamber of Secrets at Xunantunich, Belize: Investigating Ancient Maya Sages  Abstract:  Although ancient Maya graffiti has been documented at a number of sites, our understanding of … Read More

COMMUNITY NEWS​ ​ Frontier Days, October 20 & 21, Grand Success! Here are some pics of HCAA’s participation in this awesome annual event! There were two days of continuous Living History featuring Military, Frontier Lawmen, Native Americans and Civilians representing the fort’s active time period with special events for children. … Read More

​ Friday, October 20, 2017, 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Saturday, October 21, 2017, 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Two days of continuous Living History featuring Military, Frontier Lawmen, Native Americans and Civilians representing the fort’s active time period with special events for children. Friday is School Day with planned … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Eric Schroeder, BA, MA, MS, Anthropology, Archeology, Geography Lecture Title: AN INVESTIGATION INTO LATE PREHISTORIC TRADE FAIR SITES IN TEXAS Abstract: Archeologists have used the term, “trade fair” to describe a cluster of spatially distinct contemporaneous artifact … Read More

Another generous donation has been received by the HCAA from Mr. Marvin Glasgow.  Mr. Glasgow delivered hard copies of annual bulletins for the Texas Archeology Society covering over the last 30 years. These valuable publications will be used by the HCAA in its educational programs and for HCAA members to … Read More

The HCAA recently took part in a symposium for Texas elementary and high school teachers held in Kerrville the week of July 24th. This event is sponsored by Texas A & M University and is called The K-12 Summer Institute. It is focused on further training of teachers in science … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Dr. Christopher Lintz, Ph.D. Lecture Title: HAULING ROCKS AND FIRED CLAY: LATE PREHISTORIC INTERACTIONS AROUND AND BEYOND THE ALIBATES QUARRIES IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE Abstract: Two of the Late Prehistoric period (AD 1200-1500) Plains Village farming groups … Read More

“A very generous donation was recently made to the HCAA by Mr. Marvin Glasgow of Willow Park, Texas. His lithic collection included diagnostic dart and arrow points covering Early Archaic through Late Prehistoric time periods as well as numerous tools such as scrapers, choppers, utilized flakes, etc. All of the … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Speaker: Dr. Thomas R. Hester, PhD Lecture Title: OBSIDIAN AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TEXAS; THEIR GEOLOGICAL SOURCES AND  CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS Abstract: Since 1970, the Texas Obsidian Project has analyzed dozens of obsidian flakes, broken bifaces, and … Read More

To all our HCAA members : Thank you for your interest and continued support of the Hill Country Archeological Association. It time to renew! HCAA is a non-profit volunteer organization of professional and avocational archeologists serving seven counties: Kerr, Kimble, Kendall, Gillespie, Bandera, Real and Edwards. HCAA’s Mission is to … Read More

Dates: April 28-29, 2017, 10-4 pm Location: 1606 E. Main Street, Fredericksburg ​ Fort Martin Scott Two days of continuous Living History reenactments featuring Military, Frontier Lawmen, Native Americans and Civilians representing the fort’s active time period with special events for children. Friday is School Day with planned activities for School … Read More

Kemosabe Project – March 2017 Operations continue at the large Kemosabe site and are yielding some valuable information. There have been 25 square meters of excavations so far plus 7 back hoe trench excavations. Diagnostic materials indicate a multi-component site ranging in age from Early Archaic to Late Prehistoric. Multiple … Read More

COMMUNITY NEWS Date and Time: Friday, April 28, 2017  10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, April 29, 2017  10:00 am to 4:00 pm Location: Fort Martin Scott, 1606 E. Main Street (US 290), Fredericksburg, Texas More Information Link: http://www.ftmartinscott.org/current-events.html   Fort Martin Scott is proud featuring two days of continuous … Read More

COMMUNITY NEWS: 2017 Pedernales Knap-In Event Dates: Thursday, March 30 through Sunday, April 2, 2017 Location: Blanco County Fairgrounds, 619 N. US Hwy 281, Johnson City, Texas Don’t miss the 2017 Pedernales Knap-In. Expert flint knappers, archeologists, and other specialists in prehistoric skills will gather from across the Hill Country of … Read More

Doors open at 12:30 pm with refreshments. Lecture begins at 1:00 pm. Lecture Title: Hall’s Cave, Kerr County, Texas, A Unique Paleoenvironmental Site with Associated Archeology Speaker: Steve Stoutamire Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Hall’s Cave is typical of many caves within the karsted … Read More

DON’T MISS OUT!!! Awesome Speaker and . . . ENTER DRAWING for Montell Point and White Shaman Mural Book!!! HCAA GENERAL MEETING, January 21, 2017, 12:30pm   Lecture Title: The White Shaman Mural: An Enduring Creation Narrative in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas   Speaker: Dr. Carolyn E. Boyd, … Read More

Lecture Title: The White Shaman Mural: An Enduring Creation Narrative in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas Speaker: Dr. Carolyn E. Boyd, Research Director a nd founder of Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The prehistoric hunter-gatherers of … Read More

TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP! (click for application)

Lecture Title: BEYOND BASIC ARCHEOLOGY TRAINING Speakers: Steve Stoutamire and other Hill Country Archeology Association Principal Investigators will review current and recent HCAA archeological site work Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Steve will describe the training programs which the HCAA has for its … Read More

  Abstracts of Talks: First Speaker – Robert Lassen’s presentation is titled “History and Archaeology at Folsom, New Mexico, and Its Lasting Effects on Our Understanding of the Initial Peopling of the Americas.”  Essentially, he will begin with the controversy surrounding the peopling of the Americas in the start of … Read More

Lecture Title: RECENT LUAS PROJECTS Speakers: Chuck Hixson, Professional Archeologist and member of Llano Uplift Archeological Society, Lisa Weatherford, LUAS president, Jim Wukasch, LUAS Treasurer. Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Nearly every third Saturday of the month, LUAS schedules a field trip, usually … Read More

Lecture Title: Reconstructing a 3,500 year old Environmental Record at Carnegie Canyon, Western Oklahoma Speaker: Dr. Chris Lintz, Archeologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The title of the talk by Lintz will be, “Reconstructing a 3,500 year old … Read More

Rendezvous at the River Event Map

Lecture Title: “Mission Period Arrow Points and What They May Tell Us About The People” Speaker: Dr. Steve Tomka, CRM Project Manager, Raba Kistner Engineering Consultants & former Director of UTSA Center for Archeology Research Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Archaeologists have for … Read More

Date: April 7-10, 2016 Location: Blanco County Fairgrounds in Johnson City, Texas This is located on the north end of Johnson City, Texas, on the west side of U.S. Hwy 281, and on the south side of the Pedernales River. The Pedernales Knap-In is open to the public at no … Read More

Date: May 14-September 5, 2016 Location: Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas Exhibit Exhibit open during regular museum hours So grand, so immersive and so comprehensive that the Witte Museum brought it to San Antonio as the debut exhibition of the Museum’s new Mays Family Center. Maya is the largest traveling … Read More

                Even cold, windy conditions at Kemosabe can’t stop the progress!!   Operations are continuing at the Kemosabe project. To date over 30 square meters of excavation units have been opened there as well as four back hoe trenches and 92 auger hole … Read More

Congratulations Kris Bobbitt & Ed Rendon!!

Lecture Title: Excavations at San Felipe de Austin 2015-2015 Speaker: Jeff Durst, Archeologist, Texas Historical Commission, Austin Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Mr. Durst presentation will be, “Excavations at San Felipe de Austin 2014-2015”. Excavations at the site of San Felipe de Austin … Read More

Lecture Title: Archaeology Along the San Antonio Parks and Greenway Systems Speaker: Antonia Figueroa, Project Archeologist, Center Archaeological Research Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: As a part of efforts to develop San Antonio parks and Greenway systems, several new hike and bike trail systems … Read More

HCAA FIELD TRIP: MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER Friday, November 13, 2015, 2pm Lecture Title: Strings, Baskets, and Textiles: “Perishable View” of the First Americans      Speaker: James. M. Adovasio, Ph.D.,director of the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA. Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, Evans Liberal Arts Building 114 Bio: … Read More

Lecture Title: Archeological Discoveries in San Antonio: Celebrating 300 years! Speaker: Matthew Elverson, Archeologist, Office of Historic Preservation, City of San Antonio Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Bio: Matthew Elverson was raised just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. … Read More

ARCHEOLOGY CELEBRATION, Saturday, October 17, 2015, 12:30 to 3:30 PM Sponsored by The Hill Country Archeological Association Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028           FREE ADMISSION!                                  FREE PARKING!                                                    FREE REFRESHMENTS!

Kemosabe Project – August 2015 Unit excavations have started on at the Kemosabe project. HCAA members are finding fire cracked rock, broken tools, bone, and many chert flakes in good quantities. The stone and bone artifacts found in the excavations are returned to the lab and the HCAA members sort, … Read More

Lecture Title: Recent Discoveries and Insights into Prehistoric Ritual and Belief in the Jornada Region of Trans-Pecos Texas Speaker: Myles Miller, Archeologist with Versar/Geo-Marine Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Bio: Myles Miller has been professionally involved with the prehistory of the Jornada Mogollon peoples and … Read More

1st GUADALUPE RIVER TRAIL EVENT, June 20th – 11am to 2pm A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!! Sponsored by: Kerrville Elks Lodge & Hill Country Archeological Association (HCAA) Location: Riverside Nature Center (RNC) – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Exhibits along the route included: Flint Knapping, Mountain Man … Read More

Lecture Title: Caddo Indian Culture of East Texas Speaker: Paul Shawn Marceaux, Ph.D. Director, Center for Archeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Bio: Paul Shawn Marceaux, Ph.D. Abstract: This exciting lecture discusses a tribe of prehistoric Texas Indians … Read More

Sponsored by: Kerrville Elks Lodge & Hill Country Archeological Association (HCAA) Location: Riverside Nature Center (RNC) – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 First 200 registered participants will receive a free Burger & Chips upon completion of the course. Exhibits along the route will include: Flint Knapping, Mountain Man Roy … Read More

NEWS FROM FIELDWORK Kemosabe Project – April 2015 Trenching operations have started on at the Kemosabe project. A large cooking oven area, called a burned rock midden, has been discovered. These are commonly also called “Indian Mounds” here in the hill country. During screening of soil from the trench HCAA … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, May 16, 2015, 12:30pm Lecture Title: Mexican Influence in Mimbres Culture of Southwest New Mexico and Beyond Speaker: Harry Shafer, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The Mimbres culture of southwest New Mexico is best … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, March 21, 2015, 12:30pm Lecture Title: “Neanderthal Intelligence and the Mousterian Tradition: Middle Stone Age Tools and Neanderthal Survival” Speaker: Dr. Craig Mayer, President, Vinovium Partners Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Craig’s talk will be: “Neanderthal Intelligence and the Mousterian … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, January 17, 2015, 12:30pm Lecture Title: “Prehistoric Plains Indian Interactions Based on Exotic Artifacts from Central Texas” Speaker: Dr. Chris Lintz, Archeologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart., Austin, Texas Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Dr. Chris Lintz

Graduates of the 2014 HCAA Archeology Field Work Course!!! Students are (L to R): Mike McBride, Craig Mangham, Stephen Bishop, Kris Bobbitt, Steve Stoutamire (Course Instructor), and Marvin Gohlke. Congratulations graduates!!!! And good luck with your new Kemosabe prehistoric excavation project!!!

HCAA ARCHEOLOGY CELEBRATION, Oct 11, 2014

Kemosabe Project Work in surveying and excavating the Kemosabe ranch archeology sites continues on Monday September 15th starting at 7:30 in the morning at the front gate to the ranch. All members of Hill Country Archeological Association are invited to participate. Call Steve Stoutamire for more information, (830) 370-8947. The … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, September 20, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: Rock Art and Sacred Contexts in the Lower Pecos Speaker: Jeremy Freeman, Staff Archeologist, Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center, Comstock, Texas Location: Riverside Nature Center – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The Lower Pecos region of southwestern Texas retains … Read More

WORKSHOP ON IDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN STONE TOOLS, Saturday, August 30, 2014 Lecture Title: Identification of Indian Stone Tools Speaker: Dr. Steve Tomka, Former Director of Center for Archeological Research at UTSA and now CRM Director with Raba Kristner Engineering Consultants in San Antonio Time: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm with … Read More

Work resumed last Tuesday at the Kemosabe Project in Kerr County. Twelve 30 centimeter diameter auger holes were drilled in a north/south grid in an attempt to begin to localize where one by one meter test units will later be located. The property has several sites already defined on it … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, July 26, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: Field Work at Eagle Nest Rock Shelter, Mile Canyon 2014 Speaker:   Steve Stoutamire, Geologist, Anthropologist and Member of Hill Country Archeological Association, Kerrville, Texas Location: Riverside Nature Center  – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Steve will be presenting … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, July 19, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: Field Work at Eagle Nest Rock Shelter, Mile Canyon 2014 Speaker:   Steve Stoutamire, Geologist, Anthropologist and Member of Hill Country Archeological Association, Kerrville, Texas Location: Riverside Nature Center  – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: Steve will be presenting … Read More

On May 21, 2014 Frank Binetti and John Benedict were invited to visit and record a burned rock midden (=BRM) site, HCAA KE-14, outside of Sisterdale not far from the Guadalupe River. These BRM sites are the remains of hot rock and soil ovens used to cook plants. They were … Read More

On May 1st of 2014, John Benedict and Frank Binetti visited Site 41KE198 that was recorded by Frank in 2008. There were no diagnostics found at the time of the original recording of this site. Diagnostic artifacts tell us how old the site is. The purpose of this new visit … Read More

HCAA Field Crew Surveys Historic Shepherd’s Home near Boerne On April 3 and May 2, 2014 Frank Binetti (crew chief) and John Benedict surveyed the remains of a historic 1850’s shepherd’s home site, HCAA KE-10, near the city of Boerne in Kendall County. This home is on a creek terrace … Read More

NEWS FROM FIELD/LAB TRAINING 2014 Field and Lab Techniques Course HCAA offers a yearly training course for members in field and lab techniques. The five part course covers mapping techniques, lithic identification, excavation and lab training. This year’s class is pictured in photo one during the excavation training on a … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, May 17, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: North America Before Clovis Speaker: Dr. Michael Collins, Research Anthropology, Texas State University (learn more) Location: Riverside Nature Center  – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 Abstract: The Gault and Friedkin Sites in Central Texas comprise a small but important part … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, March 15, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: The Gatlin Site (41KR621) in Kerrville: Prehistoric Living Re-visited Speaker: Eric Oksanen (See Bio) Location: Riverside Nature Center  – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 The Gatlin Site spans more than 6,000 years of human activity. Who did what, when, how, … Read More

HCAA GENERAL MEETING, January 18, 2014, 12:30pm Lecture Title: Alibates Flint Quarrying & Disperal !!!! Speaker: Dr. Christopher Lintz Location: Riverside Nature Center  – 150 Francisco Lemos, Kerrville, Texas 78028 (Photo from Texas Beyond History) Speaker will be Dr. Christopher Lintz, Archeologist for the Wildlife Division of Texas Parks & … Read More

Awards were presented  in 2013 to John Benedict and Terry McTaggart, and in 2014 to Rudi Winzinger for their exceptional support of HCAA and archeology throughout the Texas Hill Country.  

Hill County Archeological Association helps TPWD stabilize prehistoric sites at the Kerr WMA On December 3rd and 4th 2013, six volunteers from the Hill Country Archeological Association along with three from the Texas Archeological Stewards Network of the Texas Historical Commission joined forces with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff … Read More

“17,000 YEARS OF LIFE IN THE HILL COUNTRY”!!! Display and Videos displayed at the Riverside Nature Center, Kerrville, Texas OCT 2013 thru  February 2014!!! Presented by HCAA in association and underwritten by ELKS LODGE #2081 KERRVILLE. There are videos of key sites, artifact displays, and plants used by prehistoric and … Read More