Phase II Archaeological Testing of Site 9Du100, Dougherty County, Georgia

Site 9Du100 is located on a proposed school relocation site in Albany, Georgia. In compliance with its responsibilities set forth in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is required to assess the significance of this site prior to any impacts to it. To this end, FEMA contracted with the Partnership for Response and Recovery (PaRR) to carry out archaeological testing of the site. Fieldwork was conducted between March 24, 1997 and April 17, 1997. A total of forty-six 3-by-3 foot test units and fourteen 5-by-5 foot test units were excavated to various depths below the topsoil. These units were placed throughout the site in areas identified in the previous Phase I investigations as having the potential for buried features or artifact concentrations. A large quantity of lithic debitage, several broken bifaces, and a few diagnostic artifacts (projectile points and ceramics) were recovered. No cultural features or sealed cultural deposits were encountered. WoodwardClyde believes that the following reasons have contributed to the lack of cultural features or sealed cultural deposits at this site: the high levels of annual precipitation and well drained, acidic soils have led to leaching of any organic materials into the subsoil; the extensive bioturbation of topsoil and subsoil deposits has destroyed any features or sealed deposits if they existed at this site; and the deep plowing of most of the site area has also contributed to degradation of any cultural deposits. Since the testing did not yield any evidence of buried, intact dateable cultural deposits, and since it appears that the site lacks integrity, PaRR recommends that site 9Du100 be considered not eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places under any of the criteria at 36 CFR 60.4. Although the cultural deposits on the site are not significant from a scientific standpoint, they may be of educational value. Specifically, portions of the site could be used to provide demonstrations and hands-on opportunities for school children to become familiar with archaeological field methods. Therefore, PaRR also recommends that, if possible, a portion of the site be preserved in place for educational purposes. The extreme northwest corner of the site appears to have the most dense artifact concentrations and appears to be the best suited portion of the site for this purpose.