Projectile
points, bifaces,
unifaces,
other stone tools, cores
and large amounts of flint
knapping
debitage
provide evidence of prehistoric
inhabitants. Two bullets, from the Civil War period, and other historic
items have also been found.
Other items, "modern artifacts", identified during the
project include contemporary objects such as a tooth*, probably lost by
a student, plastic containers, soda cans, glass, tire rubber and other
items that do not easily or quickly disintegrate. These objects help to
remind students about their responsibility to protect the environment.
It also gives them a glimpse of their own material
legacy.
Ecofacts have also been recovered at Redland Oaks. These include
animals bones, snails, seeds, charcoal and minerals.
Large numbers of fossil plants and animals who lived
in or near ancient shallow seas approximately 80 to 100 million years
ago during the Lower
Cretaceous Period have also been found at Redland Oaks. The area along
the Balcones
Fault Zone in San Antonio is thought to be part of the original edge
of Texas. At that time, the Redland Oaks area was either covered by water
or part of numerous beaches that were being deposited.
Although archaeology is not the study of fossil remains,
these fossils have helped students understand geologic time in relation
to human development. Students washed, sorted and identified these items
because they reveal the geologic history of the area.
*Dr. Greg Dahlberg and his colleagues identified the bone and tooth.
