An Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed St. Simons Island School Property, Glynn County, Georgia

In December 1992 an intensive archaeological survey was conducted of a 20.1-acre tract located one-half mile east of Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The property is the proposed location of a new Glynn County elementary school, and was investigated in order to identify and evaluate any cultural resources within the tract. Shovel tests were excavated at 30 meter intervals throughout the property, and two sites were tested further on a smaller interval and recorded. One site (9GN253) was characterized by a thin scatter of late 19th/early 20th century artifacts that may represent a homestead. No structural evidence remains intact, and no further work at this site is recommended. A second site (9GN254) was recorded that dates to the first half of the 18th century and is considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Subsurface probing and excavation of a small trench revealed a linear deposit of tabby brick and fragments accompanied by a variety of domestic artifacts that represent the remains of a domestic structure. Due to contemporaneity with the occupation of Fort Frederica and the rather unique presence of the structure outside the community confines, this site has the potential to add to an understanding of local, state, and national history. The site will be avoided by proposed construction planning, and will be preserved. A complete title search and additional archaeological and historic research at the site is recommended.