Kerrville in Kerr County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Gatlin Site
The construction of the new Spur 98 bridge across the Guadalupe River in Kerrville in 2004 was the catalyst for an archeological investigation yielding an extensive ancient Native American site near this location. The site yielded an unusually large and diverse assemblage of chipped stone projectile points and other stone tools, some older than 7,500 years, adding significantly to the understanding of how they changed form through time. These cultural artifacts, and many others found at the site, are older than the earliest Egyptian dynasty artifacts. Radiocarbon dates indicate that Native Americans returned to the site intermittently between 7500 to 1250 years ago. These ancient Native Americans were likely small groups of hunters and gatherers who moved frequently and harvested fruits, nuts, cactus pads and roots of native plants, along with hunting game such as bison, deer and rabbit.
They used the local limestone to construct hearths and ovens to cook a variety of foods, requiring an intimate understanding of the local environment and its resources. Through the thousands of years the site was visited, the ancient climate was variable but overall, cooler and wetter than today. The ancient landscape of the Edwards Plateau contained savannah, grasslands and some woodlands, and springs and streams flowing from the limestone outcrops were more common then. The Gatlin Site contains a record of more than 6,000 years of lifeways and adaptations of the native peoples of Texas who camped here on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17515.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 2004.
Location. 30° 3.706′ N, 99° 10.948′ W. Marker is in Kerrville, Texas, in Kerr County. Marker is at the intersection of Thompson Drive (State Highway 98 Spur) and Saddlewood Boulevard, on the left when traveling north on Thompson Drive. The marker is located at the front entrance to a gated community. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kerrville TX 78028, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Order of the Eastern Star Kerrville Chapter #24 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Kerrville Lodge No. 697, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Christian Church (approx. ¾ mile away); Starkey Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Spanish Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away); Methodist Encampment Community (approx. 1.4 miles away); Nichols Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Mary Ann Kent Byas Chambers Morriss (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kerrville.
Also see . . . Historical Archeology. Historical Archeology-the study by archeological techniques of sites influenced by literate populations of early native populations. (Submitted on December 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 296 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.