Intensive Archeological Survey and Testing at Uchee Creek Recreation Area, Fort Benning, Russell County, Alabama (Chattahoochee County, Georgia)

In compliance with federal regulations governing the disposition of cultural resources (National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; Executive Order 11593; Army Regulation 420-40; the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979; 36CFR63; 36CFR800, etc.), Fort Benning sponsored an intensive cultural resources survey of a three hectare portion of the Uchee Creek Recreation Area (UCRA). The Directorate of Community Activities (DCA), U.S. Army, Fort Benning proposes to add one to three pre-fabricated log cabins at the Uchee Creek Recreation Area in Russell County, Alabama to those already erected for the use of its visitors. The project area is located on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River approximately 700 m northwest of the confluence of Uchee Creek with the river (Figure 1). Project boundaries ran along the edge of the bluff parallel to the river for 300 m and extended 100 m to the southwest, away from the bluff.

The main goal of the survey was to determine if any cultural resources are present within the 300 x 100 m project area, and assess their importance, in accordance with the criteria established by the National Register of Historic Places (36CFR60.4). An equally important goal was to determine if cabin construction was feasible, given the likelihood that archeological sites would be encountered. Site significance, as outlined by the National Register, is discussed below:

The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and

(A)           that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or

(B)          that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or

(C)          that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

(D)         that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Criterion D applies to most archeological sites. An archeological site either is eligible or ineligible for listing on the National Register. If a site is determined to be ineligible, then no further consideration or protection is required by the federal agency. However, if a site is eligible, then special measures come into play. Mitigation of project effects is required if a significant site is present; mitigation can take the form of site avoidance, or protection, or conducting archeological data recovery if avoidance is not possible.