The January meeting of the Houston Archeological Society will be held in person at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, with a ZOOM link provided for those HAS members who cannot attend in person.

We will welcome archaeologist Caitlin Guliher (Terracon Consultants, Inc.), who will discuss the extraction of wax from candelilla plants (Euphorbia antisyphilitica), a twentieth century specialization in the Chihuahuan Desert

The versatile Candelilla wax appeared as an ingredient in cosmetics, gum, candy, floor wax, wood polish, and for weather-proofing fabrics. While large factories existed at Lajitas, Glen Springs, and Fresno Canyon, the majority of West Texas candelilla extraction took place in small temporary camps. Men from Mexico would work in these camps, gathering the nearby plants, extracting the wax, and then sending the raw product to refining facilities in Texas or Mexico. This lecture discusses the history of the candelilla wax industry in West Texas, specifically in Brewster County, and the modern archeological signatures of wax camps.

Caitlin Gulihur received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and her M.A. from Texas State University. She serves as the Archeology Team Lead and Principal Investigator for Terracon Consultants in their Austin office. Outside of work, Caitlin pursues research in the Big Bend region.

We hope you will all join us for this fascinating presentation on Thursday, January 15. The meeting is free and open to the public. Be looking for your meeting reminder email, which will also contain a ZOOM link so that HAS members who cannot join us in person will be able to tune in from afar

The Trini Mendenhall Community Center is located at 1414 Wirt Road in the Spring Branch area of Houston. For more information about this program or about the Houston Archeological Society, please contact Bob Sewell at president@txhas.org.

HAS JOURNAL 144 NOW AVAILABLE

HAS Journal No. 144 is now available. The Journal Number 144 The articles will focus on the San Felipe de Austin Dig by John Lohse, Horseshoes in Texas, a Thimble from the 18th or 19th century from France found in Frosttown, and another article about Camp Kirby in Dickenson, TX, a civil war camp by Charly Gordy, ceramics from Cottonfield by Tim Perttula, and information from Mike Woods about a Butted Knife Found in Comal County. Complimentary copies may be obtained by HAS members at the monthly meetings. Non-HAS members may purchase copies through Amazon.com. Go to the HAS Journals Section for a link to the publication on the Amazon.com website. Alternatively, copies may be purchased at the HAS Monthly Meetings.

To learn more about the history behind our archeological society contact president@txhas.org.