by Marianne Marek, M.A., Principal Investigator
San Felipe de Austin photos. To see more pictures from the San Felipe site click here.
What is this Project? The San Felipe de Austin Project is the historical and archeological investigation of the original town site of San Felipe de Austin (41AU2), which was the Colonial Capital of the first Anglo Colony in Hispanic Texas. Investigations are being conducted for purposes of nominating the site to the National Register of Historic Places. Private individuals own the majority of the historic town site and one of the goals of the San Felipe de Austin Project is the protection of this important site through public education and the development of historic tourism for the area.
Who is organizing the Project? Six local organizations have formed a partnership to explore the history and archeology of San Felipe de Austin. These partners include the Town of San Felipe, the Stephen F. Austin Park Association, Austin County, the Austin County Historical Commission, the Fort Bend Museum Association, and the Sealy Chamber of Commerce. The partners have hired a local Wallis resident Marianne Marek M.A, a professional archeologist, to lead the project.
How is the Project funded? The Consortium has received two Texas Historical Commission Preservation Trust Fund grants, with matching funds provided by the City of Sealy, the Austin County Historical Commission, and the Summerlee Foundation in Dallas. The Consortium will be applying for additional grants to continue and expand the project. Private donations are welcome, and may be sent to the San Felipe de Austin Project in care of the Fort Bend Museum Association, which serves as fiscal agent for the project. The Museum’s address is P. O. Drawer 460, Richmond, Texas 77406-0460.
Why is San Felipe important? In 1823, the Mexican Government granted Stephen F. Austin permission to bring 300 settlers to form the first Anglo colony in Texas. Founded in 1824, San Felipe de Austin served as the political, social and economic center of Austin’s Colony, and at its peak, the town consisted of more than 45 buildings and 600 residents. During the War for Texas Independence in 1836, the Anglo settlers completely burned the town of San Felipe de Austin to prevent its occupation by Mexicans troops. After 1836, San Felipe was only partially resettled, and the charred and buried remnants of the historic town site still remain virtually intact.
Historically, San Felipe de Austin is as important as the sites of Goliad, San Jacinto, the Alamo, and Washington on the Brazos, yet little has been done to study and preserve this significant site. The San Felipe de Austin Archeological Project is the first concerted effort to scientifically study and preserve the site of San Felipe de Austin.
Update on Excavations at San Felipe de Austin (41AU2)
The FY 2002 Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant Report for San Felipe de Austin was submitted to the Texas Historical Commission on July 15, 2003. The Fort Bend and Houston Archeological Societies will be receiving copies of this report for their libraries.
At the end of July, the project submitted a grant application to the Texas Preservation Trust Fund. The 2004 grant requests funding for salvage excavations, a magnetometer survey, and the National Register of Historic Places nomination for site 41AU2.
The Texas Historical Commission has agreed to conduct a magnetometer survey for the entire site. A magnetometer survey was conducted for a portion of the site in May. Although the results were not as spectacular as I had hoped, but the outline of a few features and structures did show up.
Shovel testing has been completed on the Wilson Property and we have moved across the road to the Hill Property. We have almost completed the Shovel testing on the Hill property and a plethora of Colonial artifacts have been recovered. We have found two trash pits, one associated with the Tavern on the Cheeves property, and a second trash pit associated with Lot 566 in the business district. The trash pits are exciting because they are packed with artifacts, lots of animal bone, ceramics, glass, and other debris. The shovel testing of the Hill property should be completed by the end of August.
The THC will conduct additional magnetometer surveys at 41AU2 this Fall. Once the THC has conducted their magnetometer survey of an area, we will use those results for the placement of test units at the site.
On October 4th, 2003, during Archeology Awareness month, the THC will be conducting a public demonstration of a magnetometer survey at the site. I will be giving public tours of the excavations. Project volunteers are needed to assist with the magnetometer survey and unit excavations. Any HAS and FBAS members that would like to help with excavations on October 4th, should contact me.
Friday October 31st and Saturday November 1st, 2003 is the Father of Texas Celebration at San Felipe de Austin. Public tours of the excavations will be given and volunteers are needed to work the excavation units, and help with tours. Any HAS or FBAS members that can assist with excavations on October 31st or November 1st should contact me. In addition I will be giving a lecture on the excavations at San Felipe de Austin on November 1st.
Want to know more? To learn more about excavation times and dates for the San Felipe de Austin archeological site go the Activities and Excavations page.
Artifact Recovery Under Way in San Felipe de Austin Dig. To read this article from The Sealy News Online website click here.
Archeologists Find Tavern in San Felipe de Austin Dig. To read this article from The Sealy News Online website click here.