Archeological Testing of 9Le(SAS)2 Cobb-Warwick Transmission Line

This report presents the results of a limited testing program designed to determine the spatial and stratigraphic limits of a previously discovered prehistoric archeological site, 9Le(SAS)2. The site was discovered in 1984 during a cultural resources survey of the Cobb-Warwick Transmission Line conducted for Oglethorpe Power Corporation by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (Gresham 1984). The original survey determined that 9Le(SAS)2 consisted of a surface and subsurface scatter of prehistoric lithic and ceramic artifacts situated on at least the south and east sides of a limestone sinkhole/cypress swamp (Figure 1). Two shovel tests placed on the centerline of the proposed transmission line each produced two chert flakes to a depth of 50 cm below surface. The western limits of the site were not determined. The site appeared to be eligible to the National Register of Historic Places and a policy of preservation in place was recommended. That is, it was recommended that no poles be placed in the site and that subsurface disturbance from clearing be avoided. For both environmental and archeological reasons, Oglethorpe Power Corporation decided to reroute the portion of the line near 9Le(SAS)2 to avoid both the cypress swamp and the archeological site. Southeastern Archeological Services contracted with Oglethorpe Power Corporation to clearly define, in the field and on maps, the site limits west of the cypress swamp. The fieldwork consisted of surface searching and subsurface shovel testing. Shovel tests were 30 cm. in diameter, with all soil passed through 7 mm (1/4 in) hardware cloth. The work was conducted on 18 February 1985 by Thomas Gresham and Jerald Ledbetter. Tate Godfrey, environmental specialist with Oglethorpe Power Corporation, observed and assisted with the fieldwork.