The Stone Piles of Sites 9JK59 and 9JK317 Jackson County, Georgia

This third in a series of three reports describes archaeological investigations of 56 stone piles in the River Glen subdivision and private property immediately to the east. Officially labeled Sites 9Jk59 and 9Jk317, the stone features were previously mentioned by Gordon Midgette (1967) and by Jerald Ledbetter (1993). To establish the antiquity and appraise the significance of the stone features, initial fieldwork was conducted between November 17 and November 23, 2016 and follow-up fieldwork was conducted between November 16 and November 22, 2017. The last fieldwork was conducted between December 17 and December 19, 2018. Prior to fieldwork, Jackson County got clearance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division and the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns. The three fieldwork sessions, which were funded by the Watson Brown Foundation, involved carefully removing leaf litter and other vegetative obstructions (including trees) from the stone features, drone photographing and GIS mapping of the stone features, inspection of the ground surface for metal artifacts with a metal detector, collection of artifacts from eroded road cuts, the setting out of flags every 10-meters in the four cardinal directions across the site, the controlled excavation of 38 shovel test pits next-to the flags, the controlled excavation of eight test units in seven separate piles, and careful backfilling of all excavated areas. Stones identified within the stone piles are mostly quartz-rich gneiss, but also include darker-colored schist fragments. Aerial photographs taken from directly above all 56 stone features with a drone camera revealed 12 preliminary shape categories. Of these, hexagonal-shaped piles comprised 29 percent and bird-looking effigies 13 percent. The identification of multiple shapes accordingly rejects the 2016 hypothesis proposing that all stone feature within the complex have hexagonal shapes. The excavation of the 38 shovel test pits and six test units yielded the following three basic soil layers, from top to bottom: 2.5YR3/1 dark reddish gray compost (0-5cm); 2.5YR3/4 dark reddish-brown sandy loam (5-15cm); and 2.5YR3/6 dark red clayey sandy loam with rocks. Artifacts recovered from the excavations include two small Late Mississippian Lamar Wolfskin phase thin-lined incised carinated bowls (AD 1550–1670), Middle Archaic Morrow Mountain (7,500-5,600 BP), Guilford/Brier Creek (5,500-4,800 BP), and Piedmont Allendale (5,000-4,250 BP) points, primary flakes, secondary flakes, tertiary flakes, thinning flakes, and chunks, mostly from local quartz/gneiss. The Wolfskin sherds are stratigraphically related to Rock Piles 01A and 06A, while the Middle Archaic lithics were recovered from below Rock Piles 01A, 25A, and 37A. These stratigraphic associations, together with evidence from neighboring areas, show that Middle Archaic occupation of the landform pre-dates the piling of terminal Mississippian Late Lamar stone features. When viewed in cross-section, excavation profiles of seven test units show that stones were carefully piled into shallow depressions with the purpose of keeping even surrounding exterior edges. At least five piled stone features with predominantly fist-sized stones that do not stand out above ground level are better described as stone mantles or stone pavements instead of stone piles. Features with predominantly fist-sized stones occur on relatively level terrain on top of the ridge crest, whereas features with predominant stones bigger than fist size occur on steep terrain north and east of the ridge crest. Since similar-looking stone features that precede the historic period comprises both modes of stone sizes, it appears that underlying geology, instead of period or cultural affiliation, influenced the predominant stone size used. The recovery of positively-identified human long bones (Appendix III) near the bottom of the piled stone layer in Test Unit 8, on the edge of an oval-shaped depression near the center of Rock Pile 01, suggest that the other piles may also contain fragmented human remains. The recovery of a Late Lamar Wolfskin phase shouldered bowl fragment from immediately below the human bones, shows that the remains and the stone pile date to this period. In terms of age, make-up, shape, contents, location on the top of a ridge, and shared area, Rock Pile 01 most closely correspond with Mound C in Reynolds Plantation, Green County, and Rock Eagle, Putnam County. The stone features within the River Glen subdivision are extremely significant, especially considering their rarity; with the likely exception of Mound C, no piles with hexagonal shapes have yet been reported in the archaeological literature. But perhaps more importantly, the suggestive bird outlines of at least seven stone features within the River Glen subdivision are the first known ones documented outside Putnam County. Up until 2017, the two bird effigies in Putnam County have been the only confirmed ones east of the Mississippi River. If destroyed by potential future construction activities in the subdivision, then these rare and non-renewable cultural resources will be lost forever. But more importantly, Georgia state law forbids the unnecessary disturbance of human remains. In addition to Rock Pile 01 with its confirmed human remains, the other stone piles within Sites 9Jk59 and 9Jk317 might contain or might once have contained fragmented human remains. Nomination of these sites to the National Register of Historic Places will help protect the sites and assist in their sustainable management. The Georgia State Historical Preservation Office initiated consultation with relevant Native American Indian groups on appropriate actions to be taken and to file a Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) inventory. It is highly recommended that Sites 9Jk59 and 9Jk317 be saved intact for future Jackson County residents and visitors from farther abroad to enjoy. Information gathered from archaeological excavations, drone photographs, GIS mapping, and ethno-historical accounts can be used to educate a visiting public about the antiquity and significance of the stone mounds. Walking trails, designed by a landscape architect, can help create a greenspace setting in the subdivision and in turn boost property values. Strategically-placed and well-designed illustrated signs, benches, and a couple of viewing towers can help visitors better view and experience the stone piles. Since the shape of some piles with fist-sized stones on top of the ridge toe are better appreciated when viewed unobstructed and from above, it is recommended that shrubs and trees be cleared from within and around the piles. Maintenance crews should routinely clear the area from overgrowth and collect trash, and when necessary, repair broken infrastructure.