Most People Don’t Know About These Strange Ruins Hiding In Texas
Many of us have heard about the dinosaur tracks in Glen Rose and the fossils in Mineral Wells, but did you know that one of the most important archaeological sites in the entire country is located right here in the Lone Star State? It’s about 40 miles north of Austin, and discoveries that have been made there are evidence of continuous human occupation beginning at least 16,000 years ago. See for yourself:
Archaeologists have known about the Gault Site for over 80 years, but the first extensive research didn't take place until 1999. Looking at this picture, would you believe that mammoth bones were discovered here?
Between 1999 and 2002, over 1.4 million artifacts were excavated - a stone floor, unique Clovis feature, and over 100 engraved stones, among other items. About half of the artifacts were of the Clovis age, the period that began around 13,500 years ago when the Ice Age ended.
More than 2000 volunteers assisted with the project. Among them were young grade school children, graduate students, retirees, and everyone in between who gave up their precious time to help researchers make strides in understanding one of the most significant archaeological sites in America.
By 2013, excavators reached bedrock, meaning there wasn't much more digging left to be done. Many of the operations have now been moved to labs, where artifacts will be analyzed and tested with the ultimate goal of producing a comprehensive study of the site.
The archaeologists travel all over the country to present information about the site. This was a meeting of the Texas Archaeological Society in Houston, and they travel to many other conferences as well to spread knowledge about one of the most important places in the country.
Although the Gault Site is private property, tours can be arranged through the Williamson County and Bell County Museums. More information on that here. You can also take a virtual tour if you don’t have time to visit in person! If you have any questions, feel free to call (512) 245-8734.
Did you know about the Gault Site? Are there any other neat archaeological sites with ruins from thousands (or even millions) of years ago in Texas? Let us know!
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Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
