Cultural Resources Survey of a 7,256 Acre Timber Harvest Area, Thurmond Lake, McCormick County, South Carolina

Panamerican Consultants, Inc., archaeologically surveyed approximately 2936.5 hectares (ha) [7,256 acres (ac)] in response to a Scope of Work for Cultural Resources Survey of a timber harvest area adjacent to Thurmond Lake, McCormick County, South Carolina. The District Forester for Thurmond Lake requested that a cultural resources survey be conducted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment), and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974.

Fieldwork took place between the middle of February and the end of May, 1995, for a total of approximately 65 working days. The purpose of the project was designed to located and assess the significance of cultural resources within the project area by means of an intensive and systematic cultural resources survey.

The scope of work called for intensive pedestrian survey and subsurface testing in order to locate cultural resources, determine their horizontal and vertical boundaries, stratigraphy, integrity, and cultural association, and evaluate their research potential. A total of 10,197 shovel tests were excavated, including 556 that produced cultural material. The remainder either produced negative results (6,691) or were not excavated (2,956) due to disturbances, such as push piles or roads, slope greater than 15%, standing water or surface visibility greater than 40%. Shovel tests averaged 30 centimeters (cm) (11 .8 inches [in]) in diameter and were excavated to a minimum of 30cm (11 .8 in), unless precluded by subsoil (clay), impenetrable roots, or rocks. A total volume of approximately 155.3148 cubic meters (m3) was excavated by shovel testing during this survey project.

The survey produced a total of 152 archaeological sites (Table 1), three of which were revisits, and 38 isolated finds (Table 2). Of the sites, 106 were historic in nature, 23 were prehistoric in nature, and 23 contained both historic and prehistoric deposits. Of these sites, 16 were considered to be potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), avoidance was recommended for 5 cemeteries, and the remaining 131 sites were considered not to possess the necessary qualities to be listed in the NRHP. A total of38 isolated finds were also recorded; 18 were historic, 18 were prehistoric, and 2 were of unknown origin. All sites and isolated fmds discovered or revisited during the survey were tested to delineate the horizontal and vertical limits of the site and the integrity of the deposits. Sites recorded during the survey were investigated to the level required for an evaluation of NRHP eligibility, following criteria designated in 36CFR60.4, "Determination of Eligibility for Inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places" (U.S. Department of the Interior 1991).

Of the 152 sites recorded during the survey of Thurmond Lake, SC, none are clearly eligible for listing in the NRHP, and the following 16 are recommended to be potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP based on Criterion D, "Information Potential, Archaeological Sites (U.S. Department of the Interior 1991): 38MC1117, 38MC1122. 38MC1130, 38MC1132, 38MC1170, 38MC1191, 38MC1212, 38MC1223, 38MC1233, 38MC1241, 38MC1243, 38MC1244, 38MC1245, 38MC1141, 38MC1144, and 38MC1145). In addition, 5 cemeteries were recorded (38MC1161, 38MC1225, 38MC1239, 38MC1255, and 38MC1257). While cemeteries are not considered to be eligible for listing in the NRHP, strict avoidance is recommended based on State and Federal laws. The remaining sites were clearly ineligible. None of the isolated finds were considered eligible or potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP.

The sites recommended to be potentially eligible should be protected or otherwise treated in accordance with applicable preservation laws and regulations. Until the U. S. Corps Of Engineers further evaluates these cemeteries, their status is equivalent to being clearly eligible for, or listed in, the NRHP. The sites recommended as ineligible, and all isolated finds, warrant no further consideration regarding the presence of cultural resources at their respective locations.