Furman Shoals in Prehistory: Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 9Bl69, Lake Sinclair Project, Baldwin County, Georgia, Final Report

Archaeological data recovery was conducted in 1993 and 1994 at site 9B169, a stratified prehistoric site on the Oconee River Fall Line, Baldwin County, Georgia. The site had previously been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and the data recovery was necessary to mitigate the impact of erosion and site vandalism. Site 9B169 is situated within the Lake Sinclair project lands of the Georgia Power Company. The excavations consisted of two blocks, each four by ten meters. Approximately one m of historic overburden was mechanically removed from each block. Excavations then proceeded in 10 cm arbitrary levels. The first block was excavated to over 3 m below surface, ending at the Pleistocene terrace surface. The second block, designed to capture additional material from the Mississippian, Woodland, and Late Archaic components was excavated to 1.8 m below surface. The site contained a series of prehistoric components associated with distinct soil horizons, including three buried A-horizons. The major components are interpreted as follows: an Early Archaic winter deer hunting encampment, represented by Palmer and Bolen points, as well as hafted end scrapers. Radiocarbon dates suggest an occupation span of 8,400 to 7,500 BC; a Middle Archaic, Morrow Mountain base camp, represented by many Morrow Mountain points, quartz bifaces, and quartz debitage. A single radiocarbon date suggests an occupation circa 4,500 BC; a Middle Archaic, Guilford expedient encampment, represented by several Guilford points. No radiocarbon dates were derived; a Late Archaic, Stallings phase seasonal base camp, represented by stemmed points, Stallings pottery, steatite bowls, and several hearth features. Four radiocarbon dates suggest an occupation span of 1,700 to 900 BC; an Early Woodland, Refuge phase seasonal household, represented by Refuge Simple Stamped pottery, and small stemmed or notched points. A single radiocarbon date suggests site use circa 850 BC; and repeated resource-specific encampments during the Vinings, Scull Shoals, Duvall, and Iron Horse phases of the Mississippian period. A radiocarbon date of AD 1160 probably reflects the Vinings occupation. The field work and analyses were conducted in accordance with a State approved Data Recovery Plan. The project has effectively mitigated the potential adverse effects of erosion and site vandalism. It is recommended that Georgia Power Company have no further cultural resource management responsibilities for site 9Bl69.