Phase I Surveys of Three Boat Ramp Sites on the Chattahoochee River, Clearance of the Scull Shoals Boat Ramp Site, and Deletion of a Bibb County Boat Ramp Site.

On February 1, 1989 Dan Simpkins of this office conducted Phase I archaeological surveys of three proposed boat ramp sites along the Chattahoochee River in Douglas and Fulton Counties. The first boat ramp locale examined was #3 (Chattahoochee River at Riverside Drive, Douglas County), and the location is described in Attachment 1. A check of the computer site files indicated no known sites at this location. About 75 yards from the river, a garden area characterized by the Congaree and Buncombe series of alluvial sands yielded a surface collection consisting of one quartzite core and three plain sand-tempered aboriginal sherds. Collection conditions were ideal within the garden over an area measuring 50' east and west by 200' north and south. A subsurface shovel test was made on both the eastern and western edges of the garden. The western shovel test had one foot of tan brown sand overlying six inches of darker tan brown sand with charcoal flecks overlying six inches of yellow tan sand. The eastern shovel test had ten inches of darker tan brown sand with charcoal flecks overlying fourteen inches of yellow tan sand. The soil from both shovel tests was troweled without recovering any artifacts. The remainder of this potential ramp site was vegetated. The inland side of the survey plot graded gently toward Riverside Drive. It was covered with pines and a thick understory of privet and honeysuckle. The river side of the plot had hardwoods with a similar understory. The archaeological collection was given the designation WGC 1661. A site form for the site has been forwarded to the State Site Files at the University of Georgia in Athens. The site is not considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. There should be no further concern for archaeological resources at this potential ramp site. The second potential ramp site examined was #2 (Chattahoochee River at Campbellton Road, Fulton County), and is described in the Attachment 1. Two archaeological sites are recorded in the state site files in this vicinity: 9Fu8 and 9Fu9. These two sites are described in Robert Wauchope's Archaeological Survey of Northern Georgia (1966:402): Fu-8 (Campbellton Road) Village site north of the Campbellton Road bridge over the Chattahoochee River, on the left (east) bank of the river a few miles downstream from Fu-14 above (Fig. 194). This may be part of the same site (Fu-8). It is south of the Campbellton Road bridge, within sight of Fu-8, and just upriver from the mouth of Camp Creek (Fig. 194). The survey area is characterized by Congaree Silt Loam and Congaree Fine Sandy Loam. It has been developed as a polo field in the past few years. The surface has been contoured and grassed. Fill was placed in several areas of the polo field during the contouring process. The best surface visibility was along the edge of the "ditch" along the southern boundary of the survey area. This lay about 75 feet north of the riprapping of the relatively recent Hwy. 166 bridge. With the exception of one limited area, no cultural material was observed along this ditch. The exception was a patch, 30 feet in diameter, of brown silty loam occurring within the prevailing reddish clay loam. Inside the perimeter of this brown stain were found: 13 grit and/or sand-tempered plain aboriginal body sherds; 1 plain fine sand-tempered rim sherd with a small'3 rounded node; 1 fine sand-tempered sherd with an indeterminate surface; and 1 fine sand-tempered sherd with curvilinear complicated stamping. The dark stain was photographed in color and black-and-white. The surface was then shovel skimmed in two places in an attempt to define the nature of the stain. The soil that was removed was screened with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. The edges of the stain were pitted with erosion gullies, and no clear edge could be determined after removing about six inches of soil. At that depth there were patches of clay overburden indicating disturbance. Three additional aboriginal sherds were observed at the base of the shovel skimming. One of these was lost during the cleaning process. One sherd was plain with fine c rushed quartz temper, and the other was indeterminate with fine sand temper. The shovel skimmed areas were re-photographed. A tentative interpretation identifies the stain as an aboriginal feature that has been disturbed, but which still retains some archaeological integrity. A soil core, one inch in diameter, indicated that the soil of the feature extended one foot or more below the base of the shovel skimming, although there was no distinct change in soil color or composition. The core consisted of brownish clay loam with charcoal. The charcoal is thought to be of recent origin. It may be associated with recent construction. The feature at 9Do8 was exposed on the erosional gully at a level about three feet below the adjacent land surface. No additional shovel tests were conducted. An archaeological bibliography of Georgia did not indicate any recent work in the vicinity of the site. Information has been requested from the Georgia DOT to determine if any work was conducted at this site in conjunction with what appears to be the recent replacement of the Hwy. 166 bridge. An updated site form for this site has been sent to the state Site Files at the University of Georgia in Athens. The description by wauchope of 9Do8 as a "village" and the

presence of at least one archaeological feature at the site, justifies the need for a Phase II survey of the site. Such a survey would determine the nature and extent of the site, would determine if the site is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and would provide a basis for a mitigation proposal if needed. The third boat ramp proposed along the Chattahoochee is #1 on the Fisheries Section Project List (Bankhead Highway, Fulton County). The location is described in Attachment 1. A files search indicated only one recorded site in the vicinity of the project. This site, 9Co27, is located on the divide separating the project locale from Nickajack Creek. It is a Civil War earthwork, part of Johnston's River Line, as described in Georgia Historical Markers on page 145. This site is located more than one-half mile to the west of the present project. The project area has been the locale of extensive clay mining. The 1958 Fulton County soil map indicates clay mining parallel to the river on both sides of the Hwy. 278 bridge. The 1973 photorevised Mableton 7.5 minute USGS quadrangle shows additional borrowing and subsequent pond development immediately to the north. Thus, the entire survey area has probably been impacted by clay mining. The original soil of the area is Congaree Fine Sandy Loam. Although the project site was wooded with a thick understory, fishing paths throughout the area provided some surface visibility. A large number of dug bait holes provided additional visibility. This was especially true in the red sandy loam along the natural levee. No artifacts were observed, and there should be no further concern for archaeology for this project. Boat Ramp #7 (Oconee River at Highway 15, Greene County) the location of which is described in Attachment 1, has been the subject of correspondence from Dr. Jack T. Wynn, Forest Archaeologist for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. The boat ramp site is in an area with which he is very familiar. In a letter dated 24 January 1989, he has stated that, " I feel that a specific cultural resources survey of this location is unnecessary, and I recommend that the project proceed." I see no reason to question the professional judgement of Dr. Wynn and for that reason I concur in his recommendation. A copy of Dr. Wynn's letter is provided as Attachment 2. Boat Ramp #6 (Ocmulgee River above River North Bridge, Bibb county) has, according to a February 13, 1989 telephone discussion with Tim Hess, been dropped from consideration as a project site. Consequently, no Phase I survey will be conducted at this location.