Remote Survey and Low Water Survey, Back River and New Cut, Chatham County, Georgia and Jasper County, SC

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District has proposed dosing New Cut between Back and Middle Rivers and locking open the tide gate at Hutchinson Island on the Back River in Savannah Harbor. In order to assess the potential impacts on cultural resources from project activities, Tidewater Atlantic Research of Washington, North Carolina was contracted by Gulf Engineers and Consultants, Inc. for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, to conduct historical research, remote sensing, and a shoreline survey of Back River. The low water shoreline survey of the area from New Cut to the lower end of Fig Island resulted in the identification of 31 archaeological sites. Twenty-five of the shoreline sites were recommended for further investigation, including documentation and assessment prior to impacts resulting from the effects of closing New Cut and locking open of the tide gate system. Twenty-six remote sensing target locations were identified as a result of the acoustic and magnetic survey. Twenty-four of the targets demonstrated magnetic and/or acoustic signature characteristics that can be considered possibly indicative of a potentially significant submerged cultural resource. The high degree of historic maritime activity associated with the Back River serves to increase the possibility of the targets being potentially significant submerged cultural resources. Therefore, diver investigations to identify and assess the nature of the 24 target signatures is recommended prior to any direct impacts resulting from the closing of New Cut and the locking open of the tide gate.