Data Recovery at Lovers Lane, Phinizy Swamp and the old Data Sites Bobby Jones Expressway Extension Corridor Augusta, Georgia

The Bobby Jones Expressway Extension Project wi-ll impact three archeological sites, Phinizy Swamp (9RI178), Lovers Lane (9R186), and the Old Dike Sites (9R134) and this report details mitigation efforts to recover archaeological data from these sites. Ile project is located in the Savannah River floodplain east of Augusta, Georgia. This project was conducted by Southeastern Archeological Services under contract for the Georgia Department of Transportation. Two of the sites, Phinizy Swamp and Lovers Lane, contained important remains from the Archaic period. Phinizy Swamp contained a stratified deposit of Early and Middle Archaic remains on a relict sand ridge. Shovel tests, test units, and two block excavations were used to investigate this site. Lovers Lane contained an extensive deposit of Late Archaic remains which were deposited within an 800 year period. The stratigraphy at Lovers Lane was quite variable across the site. Systematic shovel tests, eight backhoe trenches, four test units, hand excavated block, and mechanically stripped blocks were used to investigate this site. The Old Dike Site contained an undifferentiated Archaic and nineteenth century historic deposit. Controlled surface collection, systematic shovel tests, two backhoe trenches, three test units were used to investigate this site. Upon excavation this site proved to have limited research value and mitigation efforts were shifted to the other two sites. Geomorphological and sedimentological analysis of the Phinizy Swamp and Lovers Lane environs also was conducted.