The Baker site (41SS192) is located on the San Saba River in the general vicinity where in 1847 German colonists led by John O. Meusebach negotiated a peace treaty with southern Comanche bands. LUAS investigated an earlier use of the site, specifically a large Late Prehistoric/early historic Native American camping area spread out along a fossil channel of the river. Using shovel tests and excavation units, we were able to map the horizontal extent of artifacts belonging to the Toyah archaeological culture dating between AD 1300 and 1700. Most Toyah sites appear to be small, but we found that the Baker Toyah component covers at least 26 acres with the potential for being much larger. 

Interestingly, 16 percent of the pottery fragments recovered from the site are from vessels that were manufactured several hundred miles to the east by Caddo potters. Another interesting aspect of the Baker site is that the Native American camping area was located along a narrow strip of high ground between a spring-fed lake and the San Saba River. The lake was drained in the 1870s for agriculture, which necessitated the construction of an aqueduct to carry irrigation water across the depressed lakebed. This aqueduct is now in ruins but still an impressive (and unusual) feature. Four articles have been published on the Baker site so far, including one available online for free.