The Center for Archaeological Studies

Archaeological Testing at Camp Swift, Bastrop County, Texas

The remains of this large campfire were found 90 cm below the surface. A radiocarbon date obtained from a charcoal sample indicates that the campfire was used approximately 1,700 years ago.	CAS archaeologists Jimmy Barrera, Jacqueline Anzalone, Linda Hodges, Emory Worrell, David Nickels, and Antonio Padilla (sitting).
Geoarchaeologist Lee Nordt points to a series of clay lamellae exposed in the wall of a backhoe trench.	After excavating half of the charcoal mass, archaeologists found what is tentatively interpreted as a posthole underneath the charcoal.
CAS archaeologist Marc Beherec screening sediments.	Geoarchaeologist Lee Nordt examines the backhoe trench profile while CAS archaeologists Jimmy Barrera and Antonio Padilla assist soil scientist Tom Hallmark in preparing soil samples for transport to the laboratory.
This charcoal and ash feature was radiocarbon dated to about 700 years ago. It was likely in a small pit dug into the sand and clay at the time, but is now 130 cm (51 inches) below the modern surface.	CAS archaeologist Antonio Padilla documents the ashes and cracked rocks from an ancient campfire. The charcoal from this hearth provided a radiocarbon date indicating that the hearth was used 1,700 years ago.