Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. has completed a Phase I Archaeological Survey across 20 Acre Island, located within the Chattahoochee River channel in Harris County, Georgia, near the western bank and the community of Langdale, Alabama. 20 Acre Island is situated within the larger Area of Potential Effect (APE), which consists of nine kilometers of river channel from the Valley, Alabama Airport boat ramp to just below the Riverview Dam. No extant structures are located on the island. The island consists of dense privet thicket and mixed hardwood saplings, interspersed with large, mature hardwoods. Portions of the island along the eastern bank have been negatively affected by fluctuating water levels, encouraging slough off of large portions of earth. The western side of the island displays scouring and has been heavily modified by frequent inundation from West Point dam water release.
Archaeologists identified one previously unrecorded archaeological site (9HS532). This site consists of a moderately dense scatter of pre- contact, contact period, and historic artifacts recovered from as deep as 100 centimeters below surface (cm bs). The site is believed to contain deeply buried cultural deposits with potentially valuable information regarding various occupations within the Chattahoochee River valley; therefore the site is likely eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The site should be avoided and preserved in place.
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