National Historic Landmark

Plainview Site

Plainview, Hale County, Texas
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000814

About this property

The Plainview Site is a prehistoric Native American archeological site near Plainview, Texas, United States. Plainview point spear tips, commonly found in the Central Plains, were first described here, and date to 7800-5100 BC. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The Plainview Site is located on the banks of Running Water Draw in Hale County, Texas. The site is that of a kill site, where hunters either drove the animals off a cliff or trapped them in a river bend. Fossil remnants of more than 100 animals (a prehistoric form of the American bison) have been found at the site, as were more than 20 projectile points and other stone artifacts. The site has been subjected to illegal digging and vandalism. The site has long been known locally as a source of prehistoric artifacts, but was not formally investigated until the 1940s, after a gravel mining operation began in the area. In 1944, Glen L. Evans and Grayson Meade led a systematic investigation of the site. Although the remains of many animals were found, they were missing both skulls and tailbones, suggesting that these were removed to another location for further processing and use. They dug a pit to understand the site's stratigraphy which was enlarged in 1945 and followed by additional pits in subsequent years. The site was again investigated in the 1970s, at which time the extent of the kill bed was enlarged. Subsequent research into materials collected at the site suggests that it was repeatedly used as a kill site. The site's finds have also shed light on the butchering techniques of hunters. National Register of Historic Places listings in Hale County, Texas

Location

Plainview, Hale County, Texas

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Plainview Site

This page lists Plainview Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Plainview Site listed on the National Register?

Plainview Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Plainview Site?

Plainview Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Plainview Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Plainview Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Plainview Site?

The period of significance for Plainview Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Plainview Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Plainview Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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