Phase II Evaluation of Sites 9CK1057 and 9CK1063 McGraw Ford Substation Tract Cherokee County, Georgia

From 14 August 2000 to 18 August 2000 Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted Phase II archaeological testing of 9CK1057 and 9CK1063 in Cherokee County, Georgia, for Georgia Power Company. The two sites were identified by Brockington and Associates during a 1999 cultural resources survey of the approximately 278-acre McGraw Ford Substation Tract (Jordan 1999) and were recommended potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Consequently, Georgia Power contracted with Brockington and Associates to conduct Phase 11 excavations at 9CK1057 and 9CK1063 to further assess their NRHP eligibility. Site 9CK1057 is along, deep mineral prospect with spoil piles on a ridge and side slope. The site also includes the remains of an associated building. Since the 1999 survey (Jordan 1999), an open well has been covered and the spoil piles have been destroyed by dirt and gravel fill. The mine cuts at this site were recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP under Criteria A (history) and C (engineering). Additional background research was performed at the Georgia Geological Survey to determine if the mine cuts at 9CK1057 were associated with a significant mining episode; no records were found. One 1 by 2 meter test unit was excavated at this site. The Phase II evaluation revealed disturbed soils and a low density of artifacts. An occupation range of ca. 1900 to at least the 1930s is suggested by the artifacts recovered from this site. Based on the results of the Phase Il evaluation, this site is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. During the 1999 survey, Brockington and Associates identified site 9CK1063 as a prehistoric subsurface ceramic and lithic scatter situated in the western flood plain of a small unnamed creek (Jordan 1999). This site was recommended NRHP potentially eligible due to its potential for intact prehistoric deposits. Three 1 x 2 meter test units were excavated at 9CK1063 to further evaluate its eligibility for the NRHP. The artifact density was low, and no diagnostic artifacts were recovered. Only one feature, probably historic, was observed. Without diagnostic artifacts, no date or cultural context can be inferred for the site. Based on the results of this testing, 9CK1063 is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. No further cultural resources considerations are recommended for these sites.