American Studies Commons^™

Probing The Posthuman: Richard Powers' Galatea 2.2 And The Mind-Body Problem, Miranda Campbell

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[Editors' Introduction]

In this paper, Miranda Campbell discusses Richard Powers' novel Galatea 2.2 and argues that this work is situated at the intersection of the posthumanist and humanist discourses. Campbell examines Powers' approach to the mind-body problem, his interrogation of the limits and limitations of posthumanism, and its dissolution of the importance of the body, difference, and agency. In the posthuman setting of the Center for Advanced Science of this novel, scientists integrate the mind into the body through its designation as a mechanically functioning brain. At the Center, the binary of human and machine begins to erode with the …

The Infinite Plasticity Of The Digital: Posthuman Possibilities, Embodiment And Technology In William Gibson's Interstitial Trilogy, Tama Leaver

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[Editors' Introduction]

Ever since William Gibson coined the term cyberspace in his debut novel Neuromancer, his work has been seen by many as a yardstick for postmodern and, more recently, posthuman possibilities. This article critically examines Gibson's second trilogy (Virtual Light, Idoru and All Tomorrow's Parties), focusing on the way digital technologies and identity intersect and interact, with particular emphasis on the role of embodiment. Using the work of Donna Haraway, Judith Butler and N. Katherine Hayles, it is argued that while William Gibson's second trilogy is infused with posthuman possibilities, the role of embodiment is …

Mlgpa News (Spring 2004), Maggie Allen

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

On Power And Equity: Toward A Working-Class Rhetoric, Omar Schwartz

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

The working-class in the United States has been, and continues to be, systematically excluded from normative political representation and is allowed little opportunity to contribute to the terms and conditions of its social existence (Henwood, 1987; Moberg, 1992). While few workers today resist such marginalization, this has not been always the case. During the formative period of U.S. labor consciousness (from the end of the Civil War until the First World War), the political alienation of labor was routinely challenged by workers who relied extensively (and illegally) on collective self-help in their pursuit of economic justice. With this …

Tracing The Las Vegas Landscape Through Maps: A Cartographic Journey Through Las Vegas History, Katherine Rankin

Library Faculty Presentations

Starting with the 1844 Fremont Map, and going through the present day, each era of Las Vegas history is described.

The Nuts And Bolts Of College Writing, Priscilla Finley

Library Faculty Research

Unusual for a style handbook, Nuts and Bolts embeds writing advice in essays that identify rhetorical structures as tools for "shaping your ideas, questions and convictions to share with others." While it offers suggestions that will help writers fine-tune their sentences and paragraphs, it has a lot to say about the machinery of college writing on a grander scale--the switches, transformers, and fans which must function well before a unit can be bolted together.

Archeological Testing Of Sites 41gd113 And 41gd114 In Goliad County, Texas, Russell D. Greaves, Jason D. Weston

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Archeological testing of two previously identified prehistoric archeological sites in Goliad County, Texas, was performed by the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Testing examined 41GD113 and 41GD114 to determine their potential eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and whether they warranted designation as State Archeological Landmarks (SAL) . The work was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on July 24–August 2, 2002. Archeological testing was performed in relation to a proposed highway realignment to avoid the Noble Cemetery currently adjacent U.S. Highway 59. These investigations …

The Crabb Site (41tt650), A Prehistoric Caddo Site On Tankersley Creek, Titus County, Texas, Bo Nelson, Marty Crabb, Timothy K. Perttula, Leeannaa Schniebs

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

In this article, we discuss the archaeological findings at the Crabb site (411T650), a prehistoric Caddo settlement on an upland remnant/knoll in the Tankersley Creek floodplain in Titus County, Texas. Tankersley Creek is one of the principal tributaries of Big Cypress Creek, and it flows south past the Crabb site to merge with the larger creek a few miles downstream. This part of Titus County is in the Pineywoods, an area with abundant moisture and a warm, moderate climate in modem times, with an overstory vegetation of pines and a variety of hardwoods (principally several species of oaks and hickory). …

The South Lilly #4 Site (41ur279), Upshur County, Texas, Timothy K. Perttula, Bo Nelson, Mark Walters, Leeannaa Schniebs

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

The South Lilly #4 site was discovered in early 2003 by Bo Nelson during a survey of portions of the South Lilly Creek valley in Upshur County, Texas. During the course of his survey he recorded 13 prehistoric archeological sites on the north side of the valley,just upstream from the FM 556 crossing of South Lilly Creek. No archaeological sites had been previously known or recorded along this stretch of the valley, but his survey made it apparent that there was a high density of prehistoric sites along this creek, a tributary to Big Cypress Creek.

Nelson noted that several …

41sm195a, The Browning Site, Mark Walters, Phil Dering, Timothy K. Perttula, Leeannaa Schniebs, Marilyn B. Shoberg, Betty Inman

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

A surface collection of early 19"' century historic sherds led to archaeological investigations in 2002 and 2003 at the Browning site (41SM195A) in eastern Smith County, Texas. My interest was whetted by mention in the original land abstract that the property had once been deeded to the Cherokee Indians. In all, a total of 6.5 cubic meters of archaeological deposits was excavated at the site, including 22 shovel tests and 10 1 x 1 m test units, and fine-screen and flotation samples were taken from a prehistoric midden deposit identified during the work. As a result, 1075 prehistoric and historic …

Certain Caddo Sites In The Ouachita Mountains Of Southwestern Arkansas, Timothy K. Perttula, Bo Nelson

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

In the last few years, we have had the opportunity to study a number of prehistoric Caddo Indian sites in the Ouachita Mountains of southwestern Arkansas through conducting archeological surveys of more than 2700 acres at three lakes constructed and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District. The three lakes are DeGray Lake on the Caddo River, Lake Ouachita on the Ouachita River, and Lake Greeson on the Little Missouri River.

Our purpose in this article is to summarize the archeological character of the prehistoric Caddo sites in these three different parts of the Ouachita Mountains. We …

Book Reviews: Tribal Cultural Resource Management: The Full Circle To Stewardship, Robert Cast

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

With only ten chapters, Tribal Cultural Resource Management provides model strategies of what it takes to properly “manage” cultural resources. Although it is geared toward tribal governments and creating the right combination of preservation and protection of their culture, don’t let the title fool you, this book is for any person who has a responsibility as a land manager. Those currently involved in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) work should give this book a close read. Off hand, I can think of several federal agencies, especially those operating without Cultural Resource Management Plans, who could truly benefit from following the practical …

A Spatial Analysis Approach To Understanding Caddoan Mounds In The Arkansas River Drainage, Gregory Vogel

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

In this article I present a theoretical framework for understanding Caddoan mounds in the central Arkansas River drainage and the implications they may hold for the social structure and environmental adaptations of the people who made them. The power and efficiency of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) modeling now allows for large-scale, computationally intensive spatial analysis simply not possible before. Questions of landscape organization or spatial relationships that previously would have taken months or even years to answer can now be solved in a matter of minutes with GIS and related technologies, given the appropriate datasets. Quite importantly, though, such analyses …

41sm195a, The Browning Site, Mark Walters

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

A surface collection of early 19th century historic sherds led to archeological investigations in 2002 and 2003 at the Browning site (41SM195A) in Smith County, Texas. My interest was whetted by mention in the original land abstract that the property had once been deeded to the Cherokee. In all, a total of 6.5 cubic meters was excavated, including twenty-two shovel tests and 10 1 x 1 m test units, and a fine-screen sample was taken from the midden. As a result, 1076 prehistoric and historic artifacts were recovered, along with new information about the Woodland period archeology in this part …

Excavation Of An Earth Mound, Bowie County, Texas, A. T. Jackson

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

This large artificial mound is known as Site ET-30, A.J. Hatchel place [41BW3], Bowie County. The mound, located on what seems to be an old channel of Red River about one mile from the present stream, is part of an extensive village, perhaps related to other mound and village groups within a radius of three miles. The entire area, containing nine or more mounds, shows evidence of long-continued occupation by fairly large numbers of people. Judging from its size, and the surrounding indications of a large village, this particular mound may have been the early cultural center of the region. …

San Antonio Mission Trails Statewide Transportation Enhancement Project Volume I, Diane A. Cargill, Barbara A. Meissner, Anne A. Fox, I. Waynne Cox

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

This report represents the first volume detailing the results of archeological and archival investigations associated with the San Antonio Mission Trails Project. The project consists of a system of hike-and-bike trails under development by the City of San Antonio. Its purpose of the trails is to connect the Alamo with the four other Spanish Colonial missions in San Antonio. The project is divided into five packages or phases. Only the first four phases include archeological investigations. Because the project is estimated to last several years, rather than waiting for the completion of the entire project before issuing the report of …

An Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Location Of The Bastrop City Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bastrop County, Texas, Bruce K. Moses

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Between August 11 and August 13, 2004, the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed location for the City of Bastrop Wastewater Treatment Plant in central Bastrop County, Texas. The pedestrian survey was performed for Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc. on behalf of the City of Bastrop. Construction of the proposed wastewater treatment facility will primarily impact the northwestern portion of the property, although a gray-water outfall line will traverse the property and empty into the Colorado River. The survey, carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3501 with Dr. …

Archeological Survey And Testing Of Selected Prehistoric Sites Along Fm 481, Zavala County, Texas, Raymond P. Mauldin, Bruce K. Moses, Russell D. Greaves, Steve A. Tomka, J. Philip Dering, Jason D. Wetson

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Between April 1981 and December 1982, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) personnel conducted archeological fieldwork along an approximately 13-km segment of FM 481 in northwest Zavala County. The work was part of an evaluation of the impacts of road improvements to a series of sites along the right-of-way. All of the sites but one (41ZV202) were found not to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and not to warrant designations as State Archeological Landmarks. Additional work, not reported here, was later conducted at 41ZV202. As part of Work Authorization #57015PD004, the Environmental Affairs Division of …

Archaeological Survey For The Proposed Seton Home Campus Expansion, City Of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Richard B. Mahoney

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

During November 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey for a proposed 9.3-acre development at the Seton Home property in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey and the excavation of 24 shovel tests. A portion of previously recorded site 41BX1570 was investigated with six shovel tests, delimiting the southern boundary of the site. Moderate amounts of burned limestone, burned chert, and lithic debitage comprised the prehistoric artifact assemblage. During current and previous investigations, several modern artifacts …

Intensive Survey And Test Excavations At 41bx1576 A World War Ii German Pow Camp At Camp Bullis Military Reservation, Bexar County, Texas, Richard B. Mahoney

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

During November 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological survey and National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility testing of a former World War II German prisoner of war camp (41BX1576) at the United States Army Camp Bullis Military Reservation in Bexar County, Texas. The survey and testing efforts were accompanied by archival research and interviews with a former Camp Bullis German prisoner of war.

The field efforts within the 4.66-acre proposed area of development consisted of a 100 percent pedestrian survey, excavation of 30 shovel tests, …

Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Medina River Park, Bexar County, Texas, Antonia L. Figueroa, Steve A. Tomka

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

From July to August 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed 363-acre Medina River Park located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The 100 percent pedestrian survey was performed for Carter & Burgess, Inc. on behalf of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. The proposed park will consist of several hike and bike trails, roads, and parking facilities.

CAR staff revisited eight previously recorded sites, all of which were originally recorded between 1981 and 1984 during the Applewhite Reservoir survey (41BX346 [A & B], …

Millican Bench (41tv163) A Multicomponent Site In Travis County, Texas, Raymond P. Mauldin, Steve A. Tomka, Harry J. Shafer

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Between September of 1970 and February of 1971, the Texas Highway Department, now the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), carried out extensive hand and mechanical excavations at 41TV163, the Millican Bench site. The highway maintenance crew was ably directed by Frank Weir. Millican Bench represented the first archeological site excavated by the then Texas Highway Department (THD) under their archeological program. In 2001, TxDOT contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio to provide an assessment of the documents and data and develop research topics that may be successfully pursued with the materials …

Archaeological Survey Of A Portion Of The Proposed Castroville Regional Park Improvement And Expansion, City Of Castroville, Medina County, Texas, Richard B. Mahoney

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

During January 2004, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of a selected portion (300 feet by 7 feet) of the proposed expansion and improvement of Castroville Regional Park in the City of Castroville, Medina County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of the excavation of six shovel tests. A single previously unrecorded prehistoric archaeological site (41ME134) was encountered atop a ridge landform. Abundant amounts of burned rock and lithic debitage, along with several tested cobbles, a few cores, and one non-diagnostic uniface were encountered at ground surface and within …

Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Lorence Creek Greenbelt, City Of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Jason D. Weston

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Under contract with Rehler Vaughn & Koone, Inc. of San Antonio, archaeologists from the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey of the proposed hikeand-bike trail along the Lorence Creek Greenbelt in San Antonio, Texas. The fieldwork was completed on April 1–2, 2003, under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3085. Steve A. Tomka, Director of CAR, served as Principal Investigator. The goal of the survey was to determine the presence or absence of significant cultural materials in the area that may be impacted by the development of a proposed hike-and-bike trail …

Archaeological Survey For The Proposed St. Peter-St. Joseph Children's Home Expansion, City Of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Richard B. Mahoney

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

During September 2003, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted an archaeological survey for the proposed development of 3.17 acres at the St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home in the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Phase I survey consisted of the excavation of 18 shovel tests. A single previously unrecorded prehistoric archaeological site (41BX1570) was encountered atop a terrace along a probable remnant channel of the San Antonio River. Moderate to abundant amounts of burned limestone, burned chert, and lithic debitage, along with two lithic tools comprised the prehistoric artifact assemblage. …

The Perez Ranch Project Reassessment Of Four Archaeological Sites In South-Central Bexar County, Texas, Jason D. Weston

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

In anticipation of planned land developments, NICDAR, Inc. of San Antonio Texas contracted the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio to conduct a reassessment and boundary definition of four archaeological sites, 41BX274, 41BX277, 41BX682, and 41BX988, located on or in the vicinity of the historic Perez Ranch. The archaeological investigations were carried out under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3278 with Dr. Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator.

The investigations consisted of a surface survey of all sites, shovel testing and backhoe trenching at 41BX274, the Perez Ranch, shovel testing at 41BX988, the Laborer’s …

Archaeological Survey For The Proposed Salado Creek Hike And Bike Trail, City Of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Jason D. Weston, Bruce K. Moses, Russell D. Greaves, Barbara A. Meissner, Richard B. Mahoney

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

In November of 2002 and March of 2003, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archeological and geoarcheological investigations along Salado Creek in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The purpose of this fieldwork was to investigate, using shovel testing and backhoe trenching, the impact of the proposed construction of an approximately three-mile-long hike and bike trail along the creek. The work included testing for the presence of the historic Alsbury Family Cemetery and Homestead that may be in close proximity to the trail’s right-of-way. Work was performed under contract with …

National Register Eligibility Testing Of Site 41bo184, Brazoria County, Texas, Richard B. Mahoney, Steve A. Tomka

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Site 41BO184 is located within the right-of-way for the proposed expansion of State Highway 35 at the Oyster Creek crossing in southern Brazoria County. It was originally recorded as a multicomponent site in 1994 and was the subject of three distinct and limited archeological investigations by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) staff. In 2003, TxDOT contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio to test the National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility of the site. Systematic mechanical auger borings, ten hand-excavated 1-x-1-meter test units, and Gradall scrapings helped …

Archeological Testing Of Sites 41gd113 And 41gd114 In Goliad County, Texas, Russell D. Greaves

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

Archeological testing of two previously identified prehistoric archeological sites in Goliad County, Texas, was performed by the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Testing examined 41GD113 and 41GD114 to determine their potential eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and whether they warranted designation as State Archeological Landmarks (SAL) . The work was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on July 24–August 2, 2002. Archeological testing was performed in relation to a proposed highway realignment to avoid the Noble Cemetery currently adjacent U.S. Highway 59. These investigations …

The Cayo Del Oso Site (41nu2) Volume I A Historical Summary Of Explorations Of A Prehistoric Cemetery On The Coast Of False Oso Bay, Nueces County, Texas, A. T. Jackson

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

This report summarizes the historical information available on one of the most important cemetery sites in the state, the Cayo del Oso site (41NU2) in Nueces County, Texas. This document serves as the background volume to the Texas Department of Transportation’s ongoing monitoring efforts in conjunction with road improvement activities along Spur 3, including a section of Ennis Joslin Road and Alameda Street, in Corpus Christi. The results of the ongoing monitoring will be published in a separate volume following the termination of construction activities. The present volume summarizes the history of work conducted from the early 1900s through the …