Archaeological Survey of a 147.4 Hectare Portion of Training Area D-16 at Fort Stewart, Long County, Georgia

This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Postgraduate Environmental Management Participation Program at the U.S. Army Environmental Center (USAEC) administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U. S. Department of Energy and the USAEC. The study consisted of intensive archaeological survey of a 147.4 hectare portion of Training Area D-16 at Fort Stewart, Georgia. This study included shovel testing at 30 meter (m) intervals over the general survey tract and at 10 m intervals on archaeological sites. One meter test units were excavated at sites found to contain subsurface remains. Finally, recommendations were made concerning the eligibility of each site for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The results of this project indicate that the survey tract saw very little habitation until the 19th and 20th centuries. Aboriginal occupation proved to be sparse in this area consisting of 2 light artifact scatters (9LG39 and 9LG89). The prehistoric components at these sites probably represent the locations of brief specialized activities. Historic occupation of this area was represented by seven 19th/early 20th century artifact scatters (9LG21, 9LG37, 9LG38, 9LG39, 9LG85, 9LG86, 9LG87) and the remains of a historic bridge (9LG88). Two of the historic artifact scatters (9LG21 and 9LG37) consisted of so few artifacts that site use and function could not be assessed. The remainder of the historic sites appear to be homesteads with date ranges from the mid-to-late 19th century to the early 20th century. None of these sites were recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The prehistoric sites exhibit very low artifact density, little variation in artifact type, and show little possibility for features. The historic sites located within the project area all exhibit date ranges from the 19th to early 20th century. Due to the abundance of historic sites of this period on Fort Stewart these sites are unlikely to produce new, non-redundant information.