https://www.txsmartbuy.gov/esbd/808-26-243671
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is preparing to conduct archaeological investigations-Geophysical Survey Specialist Services, at Pass Cavallo to locate the encampments and abandoned shipwrecks associated with Louis Michel Aury’s occupation of Matagorda in May and June of 1817. Along with Galveston Island, Matagorda served as the revolutionary headquarters of the Republic of Mexico from 1816–1817, with Aury as the governor during the Mexican War for Independence.
The underwater archaeological survey will cover 4,113 acres under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 32185 and will be conducted in two stages: a traditional remote-sensing survey using the agency’s 25-ft SeaArk VC Commander Anomaly II and a micro-shallow water survey using an autonomous survey vessel (ASV). This request for proposals (RFP) pertains to the traditional underwater archaeological survey for which the THC Marine Archaeology Program is seeking a remote-sensing survey specialist to assist with data acquisition aboard Anomaly II. This task includes post-processing and interpretation of the field data.
This project is made possible, in part, through grant support from the National Park Service (NPS). The primary objective of the overall project is to discover the shipwrecks and settlements associated with Aury’s tenure in Matagorda. However, unrelated archaeological sites may also be discovered during the fieldwork. Pass Cavallo serves as the historical commercial entrance to Matagorda Bay, prior to the creation of the Matagorda Ship Channel through Matagorda Peninsula in 1966. The historical inlet has not undergone large-scale modifications, giving it a high potential to contain undiscovered underwater archaeological sites. According to THC data, nearly a hundred reported, unverified shipwrecks are located in the vicinity of the project area.
The traditional remote-sensing survey on board Anomaly II will utilize a GeometricsG-882 marine magnetometer and EdgeTech 4125 dual-frequency side-scan sonar for data acquisition. The purpose of this investigation is to detect targets that represent submerged cultural resources. The survey will be conducted in accordance with agency requirements outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 2, Rule §28.6. It will be performed at 20-meter survey intervals, with significant remote-sensing targets also undergoing close-order refinement survey. As part of the fieldwork, previously detected shipwrecks and significant remote-sensing targets from earlier archaeological studies within the project area will be re-examined. All magnetic data will be processed and presented as contour isolines according to state survey standards (13 TAC§28.9). The data will be evaluated using standard underwater archaeology interpretative models, including the North-Alignment Model. Verified magnetic targets identified as shipwreck archaeological sites will be included in the proprietary database developed in conjunction with this model.
The remote-sensing specialist will assist in the mobilization and deployment of the survey vessel and equipment. The respondent will be responsible for supervising field data acquisition and post-fieldwork data processing, with a specific focus on magnetic data. As part of the project, verified shipwreck archaeological sites will be incorporated into the North-Alignment Model database, so the respondent must have access to this proprietary study and product. The respondent must meet the minimum professional qualifications for an underwater archaeologist as presented in 13 TAC §26.4. Previous experience conducting underwater archaeological investigations at Pass Cavallo is preferred.
Proposalsshould be emailed to responses@thc.texas.gov and clearly labeled with the RFP number.
For further inquiries, please contact Christi Duve at christi.duve@thc.texas.gov
Underwater Archaeology and Maritime History jobs 