OLD BONES ORDERED OUT OF THE WAY OF THE GRAND PARKWAY 
District judge Reece Rondon has given TxDOT the go-ahead to remove 2 sets of prehistoric human remains contractors found over the summer in the path of Grand Parkway’s Segment E — as well as any additional gravesites contractors encounter nearby. The bones and bone fragments — some estimated to be as much as 9,000 years old — were discovered on the northern bank of Cypress Creek, less than 3 miles south of where the Grand Parkway will intersect US 290. According to documents submitted to the court, investigators had been aware since 1996 of an extensive archeological site in that location. The Harris County Historical Commission had requested that TxDOT delay the project to allow more study of the artifacts; it is appealing the ruling. [Houston Chronicle; previously on Swamplot] Photo of gravesite: abc13
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I’m surprised the judge didn’t say paving over this prehistoric site will preserve it for future study.
Obviously the bones can’t be 9000 years old since the bible tells us the earth was created only 6000 years ago. Crazy archeologists!
If it has been known since 1996 that this was a good potential archaeological site, why hasn’t some grad student received a grant to perform a dig?
It’s been 18 years and nothing happened.
The parties that could have worked the site had their chance. Also, it must have not been an area of significance or it would have been dug up already.
I don’t believe these are prehistoric remains. Prehistoric remains can’t stay preserved in the soil environments around Houston. As soon as this story came up, I sent it over to my sister-in-law who is an archaeologists. She said the shallow burial and the environment the body was found would not indicate prehistoric at all. All the remains (even the bones) would have been destroyed by nature.
I remember learning that, in the Houston area, the only Native American archaeological findings have been between Cypress Creek and White Oak Bayou. [Not a permanent settlement but evidence of hunting and camping]
This ‘Find’ would support that.
Presumably the waterways’ courses have remained pretty constant.
At kjb434: How old could the oldest bone be, give or take??
A UH anthropologist, who has worked locally (Fort Bend County, the site of the GRB for example)Kenneth Brown, has said that the bones could be up to 9,000 years old. Every archaeological site has its own unique characteristics, so let’s let the professionals figure out how old the site(s) are and whether they have any significance. Texas has got plenty of roads already, but if you destroy an archaeological site you can’t just build another.
From Guy Incognito: “Obviously the bones can’t be 9000 years old since the bible tells us the earth was created only 6000 years ago.”
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Odd. I know plenty of Christians, and none believe the earth is 6000 years old. That’s just a “ha ha, religious people are so stupid” statement that intolerant people like to bring up.
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(and before you reply with some google found link from a christian site saying the earth is 6000 years old, I’ll concede that there are a few people that think that. Just as there are people that think the earth is going to end 12-12-2012)
Cody,
I’m not making fun of Christians…in general.
Creationism along with Biblical literalism is quite common. While the Bible does not give a specific date for the creation of the earth, biblical literalists calculate approximately 6000 years based on genealogy.
It’s important to some Christians, but I’ve never considered it to be an essential of faith.
Such projects are very complicated issues. The graves have been desicrated, yet who the remains are related to remain unknown. Leaving them in place is usually best, but it appears in this case that would mean altering the road. We sure can’t do that for a raod we might need some day. Right?
That is an awesome way to respect the dead. Cover them over with concrete and drive noisy motor vehicles over them for about 100 years.