Bill Text: TX HR2245 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker for Loma Sandia Prehistoric Cemetery.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-26 - Reported enrolled [HR2245 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR2245-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2245 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Live Oak County Historical Commission hosted the | ||
| dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker for Loma Sandia | ||
| Prehistoric Cemetery in Live Oak County on April 19, 2015; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A late Middle Archaic burial ground and campsite, | ||
| the Loma Sandia site was discovered in 1973 by archeologists from | ||
| the Texas Department of Transportation working in advance of the | ||
| construction of Interstate Highway 37; the skeletal remains of more | ||
| than 200 individuals have been recovered, and strata analysis | ||
| indicated that burials occurred from 850 to 550 B.C., when a number | ||
| of tribes sharing a Coahuiltecan language dialect occupied the area | ||
| from present-day San Antonio to Mexican Coahuila and Tamaulipas; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Research at the Loma Sandia site has led | ||
| archeologists to revise theories about the ancient peoples of South | ||
| Texas; previously, scholars believed that most burials in the | ||
| region's interior were isolated graves left by small, constantly | ||
| moving bands; however, the size of the Loma Sandia cemetery and the | ||
| evidence offered by mortuary items found there indicate that the | ||
| culture, while itinerant, was more communal, with groups encamping | ||
| periodically for religious and funeral rituals within fixed | ||
| territories over a period of several hundred years; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Artifacts found at the site also reveal slowly | ||
| developing sophistication in the making of tools; in addition, the | ||
| items excavated, including marine shells and shark teeth, show | ||
| interaction with groups on the Gulf Coast, as well as a lesser | ||
| degree of communication with groups in Central Texas; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Loma Sandia Prehistoric Cemetery has provided a | ||
| wealth of information about the early inhabitants of South Texas, | ||
| and recognition from the Texas Historical Commission underscores | ||
| the importance of this site in advancing knowledge of a bygone | ||
| civilization; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the Official Texas | ||
| Historical Marker for the Loma Sandia Prehistoric Cemetery and | ||
| commend the efforts of those involved in securing this designation; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the historical commission as an expression of high | ||
| regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Guillen | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2245 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 21, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
