Problems in the Preservation and Study of Archaeological Metals in East Texas

Dee Ann Story recently pointed out how little really is known about the archaeology of Texas Caddoan sites. Specifically, she notes how very few Caddoan sites have been systematically excavated and analyzed in Texas.There has been some substantial effort in this direction recently as witnessed by the renewed investigations at the Sam Kaufman (Roitsch) site by the Texas Archeological Society and the Texas Historical Commission. However, it seems evident to some of us that while investigations of the prehistoric Caddoan archaeological data base has been less than adequate, our understanding of historic Caddoan groups remains even less satisfactory. In fact, archaeologically it is not yet possible to specifically and reliably identify many eighteenth century Indian sites in Eastern Texas as being affiliated with Caddoan peoples. Nor can we identify these Caddo from the many, more or less itinerant, candidates from among other tribes who may have paused and settled within known Caddoan tribal boundaries in historic times.