Texas Almanac, 1943-1944 Page: 52
[338] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
52 TEXAS ALMANAC.-1943-1944
prehistoric Texas were represented the cul-
tures of the Mississippi Valley, the wooded
and open plains and the Rocky Mountains.
Archaeological Research.
Archaeologists have been impressed by the
importance of Texas as a meeting place of
prehistoric cultures. The late Prof. J. E.
Pearce of the University of Texas wrote.
"The importance of Texas in American
archaeology lies in (1) the fact that the state
is in the heart of a great North American
triangle, the apices of which are the culture
centers of the Maya-Aztec area, the Pueblo
area and the mound-builder area, (2) the evi-
dence which it affords of the relationship
between the cultures of the pronounced nat-
ural environments such as the forested areas,
the coasts, the prairies and the high plains,
and (3) the inherent value of the early Texas
cultures in themselves."
The importance of Texas as a meeting place
of prehistoric cultures has been stressed also
by Frank M. Setzler of the Smithsonian In-
stitution of the United States National Mu-
seum. Mr. Setzler, who finished in 1935 three
seasons of research in the caves of the Big
Bend, wrote in the American Anthropologist
of January-March, 1935"
"The State of Texas characterized by its
vast size, diversified climate, fauna and flora,
surrounded by divergent aboriginal culture
centers, may be considered at the present
time as containing the possible solution to
many important archaeological problems.
Among these may be cited the northern mi-
grations of autochthonous Mexican cultures,
the southern development and western spread
of a Mississippi Valley mound or proto-his-
toric Indian pattern, the southern extremity
of a Plains complex, and last, but most im-
portant for consideration here, the eastern
migration and influence of the better estab-
lished prehistoric Southwestern groups."
Discoveries in West Texas.
The search for evidences of prehistoric man
in Texas has been extended in recent years
into practically every part of the state. In-
teresting evidence has been found in the
caves of the mountain region of the Trans-
Pecos where an arid climate aids in preserv-
Ing archaeological remains Throughout the
Hueco Mountains east of El Paso, the Guada-
lupe and Davis Mountains farther east, and
the Chisos Mountains in the southern part of
the Big Bend are found many evidences of a
culture related to the Pueblo cultures of New
Mexico. It is probable, though, that it was
Pueblo influence merely and not racial con-
nection. Possibly the prehistoric men of this
area were an extension of the peoples living
in northern Mexico.
The Pueblo influence has been found also
in the Panhandle along the Canadian where
Floyd V. Studer of Amarillo and the Pan-
handle Plains Historical Society and the
Texas Technological College have done re-
search.
Many significant discoveries have been
made in Central West Texas, where Dr.
Cyrus N. Ray of Abilene, with archaeological
research as a hobby, led the way beginning
about 1927. Some evidence of Pueblo culture
has been discovered this far east, but a
number of skeletons unearthed in this area
indicate an even older culture. Some of these
have been found fairly closely in association
with fossils of the mammoth and other ex-
tinct animals. Notable discoveries have been
made near Abilene, Albany and Colorado.
In Central Texas.
Research has been done over much of
Middle West and Central Texas by tl.e late
Dr. J. E. Pearce of the University of Texas
and the Central Texas Archaeological Society,
Wace There has been especial interest in
excavation of the burnt-rock mounds or kitch-
en middens of this area While these aiecgenerally of fairly recent date, some of the
larger reveal two or three levels of culture.
Throughout this aiea and westward, there
are many interesting examples of Indian sign
writing of which those on the cliffs near
Paint Rock (from which this town takes its
name) are the best known though possibly
not the most significant.
Coastal and East Texas.
Research has been done by the University
of Texas in the coastal area where an abo-
rigine seafood economy is found similar to
that of the Kaiankawas who were living in
this area when white men appeared on the
scene The cultural level was low in contrast
with the somewhat higher level o{ the mound
builders farther inland, the prairie nomads
and the still higher civilization of the Pueblo-
type in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle
There has been some excavation of the
Indian mounds found in East Texas and. in
one instance, South Texas The South Texas
mound is near Victoria A notable East Texas
mound is found near Alto. Both of these give
evidences of cultures similar to those of the
Mound builders of the Mississippi Valley and
those of Eastern and Southein Mexico A
number of large mounds are found along the
Red River in Northeast Texas and South-
ward as far as Nacogdoches and Palestine.
Excellent pottery is found thioughout the
region, also many axes, knives, drlls and
other artifacts of the aboi igine, evidencing
a fairly high state of culture.
Just how long man has lived in Texas can
not be stated on the basis of evidence gath-
ered to date. Some findings by the Bureau
of Economic Geology of the University of
Texas indicate a much gi eater antiquity than
has usually been conceded, possibly as much
as 120,000 years, though until recent years
authorities have limited their estimates of
human habitation of this continent to a
maximum of 25,000 years.
Museum Deposits.
While much remains to be done in the field
or archaeological research in Texas, excava-
tions to date have brought up sufficient evi-
dence to warrant general assumptions as to
the character of prehistoric man in Texas.
Valuable collections of artifacts are found
in a number of museums, notably at the
University of Texas. There are also collec-
tions at the West Texas State Teachers Col-
lege. Sul Ross State Teachers College, Baylor
University and a number of out-of-state in-
stitutions including the National Museum.
INDIAN TRIBES OF TEXAS.
When the Franciscan fathers began to
establish their missions in Texas in 1690
there dwelt in Texas forty or more Indian
tribes, speaking as many dialects, which
could be classified in about seven to nine
linguistic groups and racial stocks. Not much
is known of the tribes dwelling considerable
distances from the coast or the Rio Grande,
but historians and archaeologists are gener-
ally in agreement on the following approxi-
mate grouping of aborigine Texans: (1) the
Caddo tribes of Central and East Texas, (2)
the Karankawas and Attakapas of the low
coastal plain, (3) the Coahuilticans of the
area south and southwest of San Antonio,
(4) the Tonkawas of Central Texas, (5) the
Comanches and Kiowas of the West Texas
plains, (6) the Apaches and Lipans of the
Edwards Plateau and the high plateaus of the
Trans-Pecos and (7) the members of the Ute
nation in the extreme western part of the
Trans-Pecos and along the canyon of the Rio
Grande and its tributaries in the Big Bend,
including Pueblos or stocks of kindred cul-
ture.
The Caddoes lived over a wide area, includ-
ing most of the pine belt of East Texas,
ranging from the Gulf Coast to the Red River
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Texas Almanac, 1943-1944, book, 1943; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117165/m1/54/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.