Cultural Resources Survey of 8,000 Acres of Timber Harvest Areas, Thurmond Lake, Georgia

Panamerican Consultants, Inc., under contract with the Department of the Army, Savannah District, Corps of Engineers (COE), conducted an intensive surface and near-surface terrestrial cultural resources survey along portions of the J. Strom Thurmond Lake (also known as Clarks Hill Lake), in Lincoln County, Georgia (Figures 1 and 2). This work was carried out under the provisions of Contract Number DACW21 -93-D-0040, Delivery Order Number 0001. These investigations had the objectives of identifying, recording and evaluating historic and prehistoric properties within the project boundaries, pursuant to National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria as detailed in 36 CFR 63. All activities related to this project were conducted in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines established in 36 CFR 66, Recovery of Scientific, Prehistoric, Historic, and Archaeological Data: Methods, Standards and Reporting Requirements, as required by the scope of work for this delivery order. Completion of this intensive survey was required in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment), and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 as stated in the project scope of work. Site evaluation included integration, as possible, into the cultural/historical scheme proposed for this area. Ultimately, the results, conclusions, and recommendations will provide information useful for long-term planning for land management within the J. Strom Thurmond Lake forest and recreation areas. This study, which constituted an intensive pedestrian survey within the Savannah River watershed, was carried out between June 6 and September 10,1994, by a crew of from four to twelve individuals. John C. Bennett and Les Seago performed the site revisits in the field during the months of February through May, 1995. The study area included cat 3,200 hectares (ha) (8,000 acres) on the north bank of the Little River just west of Georgia State Route 43 and continuing east to and including the Bussey Point Wilderness Area at the confluence of the Little River and the Savannah River (Figures 1 and 2). A total of 162 prehistoric and historic sites plus 53 isolated finds were newly recorded as a result of the present survey on COE lands along J. Strom Thurmond Lake in Lincoln County, Georgia. Fifteen sites were also revisited within the area. Of the 162 sites newly recorded, 26 are prehistoric, 77 are historic, 20 are mixed prehistoric and historic, and 39 are of undetermined affiliation. Of the historic sites, 9 have cemeteries, plus 4 additional sites with possible cemeteries. The 53 isolated finds include 42 prehistoric locations and 11 historic locations. Historic sites were mainly of two types, namely old home sites and possible mines. Because of the general lack of cultural debris located around the (supposed) mining pits, we were unable to determine their ages. Gold mining was carried out in the early nineteenth century and manganese mining was conducted in the early twentieth century, but on the ground we were unable to distinguish which type of mining the pits might represent (if, in fact, they represent mines at all) Historic cemeteries also occurred independently or associated with home sites.