Archeological Survey of the Billy Preston Wetland Mitigation Tract, Jeff Davis County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation wishes to purchase an approximately 174 ha (430 ac) tract of land in Jeff Davis County so that it can be restored to wetlands. On April 19 and 20 and May 28 and 29, 2001, Southeastern Archeological Services conducted a Phase I archeological survey of the tract to locate, describe and evaluate the significance of archeological sites. The tract is almost entirely open, cultivated land, with only small portions still wooded. All the cultivated land was fallow at the time of the survey, providing excellent surface collecting conditions. All of the slightly elevated land forms that had been wooded, had recently been clearcut, providing good to excellent visibility in these areas. Only a relatively small portion of low-lying wetlands in the southern portion of the project area was still wooded and lacked surface exposure. The northern boundary of the tract, which does not conform to natural or cultural features, was delineated differently on the two project maps provided to us, and neither conform to the boundary shown to us in the field by the cooperative landowner, Bill Preston. Because of this uncertainty, we actually surveyed an additional 20 to 30 ha on the north side of the tract before Mr. Preston clarified the northern boundary for us. Archival research showed that no archeological sites had been recorded in the tract, and none had been recorded in the near vicinity. Maps and aerial photographs indicated the presence of two twentieth century house sites in the tract. Our field survey discovered and recorded five archeological sites. Two were very sparse prehistoric lithic scatters and three were highly disturbed, late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century house sites. Two of these house sites also contained very sparse scatters of prehistoric lithics. In addition, two artifact occurrences, consisting of a single chert flake, were recorded. All five sites and two occurrences are located on low ridges that adjoin the linear wetlands and consist only of plowzone scatters of artifacts. None have any further research potential and we recommend all sites and occurrences as not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.