Engelhard Corporation is currently mining kaolin in the 352nd District of Wilkinson County, south of Irwinton. In planning for the mine, Engelhard contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., an archeological consulting firm based in Athens, Georgia, to identify a possible cemetery that had been brought to the attention of company officials by local citizens. In compliance with state legislation (Chapter 72 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated [Section 36-72-5]), Engelhard prepared an application to the local governing authority to move the cemetery. As part of the application process (provisions 2 and 4 of Code Section 72-365), Engelhard contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. to prepare a report "stating the number of graves believed to be present and their locations" and to prepare a plan for identifying and notifying descendants of those who might be buried in the cemetery. The initial findings were submitted to Engelhard Corporation in June of 1993 (Braley 1993).
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