On January 17, 2019, LG² Environmental Solutions, Inc. (LG²ES) conducted a Phase I Archaeological survey of 133 square meters located at the Georgia Historical Society (GHS), Lot 13, Forsyth Ward, 501 Whitaker Street. Lot 13 is located in both a local historic district, the Savannah Historic District; and a National Register District, the Savannah National Historic Landmark (NHL) Historic District. The survey area consists of a yard located within the corner of the ell of the GHS Research Center, an L-shaped contributing historic resource to the NHL Historic District. This Phase I study was completed to assist the GHS in satisfying Section 106 requirements for a proposed construction of an addition to the GHS Research Center.
The purpose of this report was to identify and document archaeological resources located within the project’s area of potential effect (APE) that will be directly impacted by construction of the proposed addition; to provide resource eligibility recommendations for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); and to assess whether the project will have any effect on archaeological resources. This investigation was limited in scope exclusively to archaeological resources within the area of direct impact for the project and did not evaluate the effects of the project on adjacent above-ground historic properties.
The Phase I archaeological survey required the completion of seven (7) shovel tests. Shovel test sampling followed the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists’ Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys. As a result of this investigations, one site, 9CH1513, was identified within the project APE that will be directly impacted by the new construction. Site 9CH1513 is recommended as not eligible for the NRHP.
It is the finding of LG2ES that the development of the project area will not impact any archaeological or historical resources listed in or eligible for the NRHP. As such, no further research is recommended.
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