• Research, preservation and interpretation.
• Inventories and surveys.

Example Project #1

Project Name: La Salle Shipwreck

Location: Matagorda County

Project Description: The scope of work included the excavation of the 1686 wreck of La Salle's ship, La Belle to document the archeological remains of a fully loaded colonizing vessel, some of whose content consist of the personal possession of La Salle himself. Texas Historical Commission (THC) employed, for the first time on a major submerged North American cultural site, cofferdam technology to de-water, excavate and record the vessel and its cargo. Artifacts were transported to the Conservation Resources Lab at Texas A&M University for conservation. The hull and associated material is currently on display, where the public can view a ship of exploration and discovery, along with trade goods, ship's equipment and personal items that the vessel transported. For more information about the discovery, visit the THC web site.

District or Division: Yoakum District

Federal Funds: $535,266

(click on a photo to see an enlarged version)

	Artifacts ranging from thousands of small glass trade beads to bronze cannons were recovered from La Salle's 1686 sunken ship found in Matagorda Bay.
	Along with artifacts, a skeleton of one of the French sailors was discovered nestled in a coil of ropes in the bow of the ship.
	Excavation took place 11 miles out in gulf coastal waters surrounded by a cofferdam, a first for such undertakings.
	Scaffolding provided access to the vessel for archeologist, some who lived on the dam and floating barge during the excavation.
	From the dam, viewers can recognize the outline of the ship's hull that measured only 55-ft. in length and at one time held 55 men onboard.

Example Project #2

Project Name: Texas Historical Sites (GIS) Database and Improvements, Phase 1 and 2

Location: State Agencies and web site

Project Description:

This project has been selected for Enhancement Program funding twice. Through the partnering of two state agencies, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the Texas Department of Transportation, the development of a database listing archeological and historical sites throughout the state was created. This database though used by both agencies in the management of the state's cultural resources is also available to the general public on-line. Additional funding was approved to further expand the information available on-line while making the system more user friendly by improving the links to better show the relationships between sites, documents, and properties. You may access information available in the database by visiting the THC web site.

District or Division: STATEWIDE

Federal funds: (Total of two projects) $2,286,641

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