Phase I Archaeological Survey of Cartersville Airport Bartow County, Georgia

In September 2019, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington), contracted with Croy Engineering to conduct a Phase I archaeological survey for the Cartersville Airport Hangar Expansion in Bartow County, Georgia. Croy Engineering is seeking an Individual Permit through Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 CFR 320-330), in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended through 2016), and 36 CFR 800 (Protection of Historic Properties). Brockington conducted this archaeological survey to determine the effects of the proposed project on cultural resources in the 10-acre study tract.

No historic buildings are located within or near the project area. The study tract is located within the previously listed Etowah Valley National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) District. Listed in 1975, the district consists of a total of 40,202 acres. The district represents multiple time periods ranging from Archaic to Late Victorian and includes a variety of cultural resources, including 65 archaeological sites.

There are 49 previously recorded archaeological sites within a one-kilometer radius of the project area. Two previously archaeological sites, 9BR645 and 9BR646, are located within the 10-acre project area. These sites were first identified during Steve Webb’s archaeological survey in 1986 (Webb 1986). Site 9BR645 is a prehistoric midden that contained ceramics and lithics representative of the Woodland and Mississippian periods. Site 9BR646 is a prehistoric lithic scatter of an unknown prehistoric period. In 1987, Webb conducted a Phase II evaluative testing in which he evaluated Sites 9BR645 and 9BR646 for eligibility for the NRHP. He recommended 9BR645 as eligible and 9BR646 as not eligible (Webb 1987). Both sites were revisited and reevaluated during Brockington’s investigation, and we suggest that additional Phase II testing is necessary to determine final NRHP eligibility.

Brockington identified one additional new archaeological resource recorded as Site 9BR1203. Site 9BR1203 is a low-density prehistoric lithic scatter located in a wooded area on the southern end of the project area south of SR 61. The site is located along the floodplain about 160 meters east of the Etowah River. Brockington recommends additional investigations are necessary at 9BR1203 to determine eligibility for inclusion on the NRHP under Criterion D.

Due to development and erosion, current site conditions are substantially different from Webb’s investigations. Throughout the project area, the upper soils were perhaps adversely impacted by the installation of a drain south of previously recorded Site 9BR646. However, all the sites are located within the Etowah River floodplain and it is difficult to know if our shovel tests reached sterile subsoil; significant deeply buried archaeological deposits could be present. Brockington recommends a Phase II evaluation and geomorphological evaluation be conducted to assist in the management of these sites and determine final NRHP eligibility.