Along the quiet stretch of Miller Creek in Refugio County, a piece of Texas’ ancient human story has found dedicated guardians. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has awarded Rebecca and Robin Carville of Rancho Riacho a Historic Texas Lands Plaque, recognizing their exceptional commitment to preserving one of the state’s significant archeological sites.
The Carvilles join a select group of private landowners who voluntarily protect Texas’ irreplaceable cultural heritage. Their stewardship began in 2023, when they reached out to the THC seeking guidance on how best to safeguard an archeological site on their property. Over the next two years, THC Archeology Division staff conducted site visits, documenting well‑preserved precontact materials and archeological deposits—evidence that the land holds valuable insight into the region’s prehistoric past.
Understanding the importance of what lay beneath their feet, the Carvilles took a remarkable next step: nominating the site for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. This formal legal protection ensures that the site, and the history it represents, will be preserved in perpetuity.
State Archeologist Brad Jones praised their dedication, noting, “The Carville family didn’t just open their gates to our archeologists — they made a lasting commitment to protect this site for future generations.” Their actions embody the very spirit of the Historic Texas Lands program, which honors landowners who take concrete steps to conserve archeological resources through easements, transfers, landmark designations, or support for professional research.
The plaque itself, cast in aluminum and one foot in diameter, will soon hang proudly at Rancho Riacho—an emblem of stewardship supported by the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation of El Paso.
Texas is home to an estimated 2 million archeological sites spanning at least 13,000 years of human history. Protecting these sites—especially those on private land—depends on partnerships with landowners like the Carvilles, whose commitment ensures that the stories of Texas’ earliest peoples remain intact for generations to come.
