Phase III Archeological Data Recovery at Site 9BA65, A Prehistoric Soapstone Quarry, Bank County, Georgia

R. S. Webb & Associates (RSWA) conducted Phase III archeological data recovery excavations at Site 9BA65, in the R & B Landfill tract, in Banks County, Georgia. This project was conducted in accordance with a research design for Phase III archeological investigations approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer (Webb 2002). The data recovery excavations at 9BA65 consisted of block and feature excavations, as well as site mapping and photography. Fieldwork was conducted from January 2 through March 13, 2003. Excavations at 9BA65 focused on issues relating to the technological processes required to manufacture a soapstone vessel by examining the quarry features and their relationships to intact archeological deposits and other cultural features. We also obtained information that will enhance the understanding of the technology used to manufacture the tools used during soapstone quarrying and vessel manufacture. These results were compared with data on the existing ultramafic extraction/reduction/refinement paradigm obtained from other soapstone quarry archeological studies. Determining when Site 9BA65 was active, when the site was used for soapstone vessel manufacture, and if the use of space, technology, and/or style vary through time were also important considerations which we attempted to address by this research. Site 9BA65 is a Late Archaic soapstone quarry. Minor Woodland/Mississippian and Historic period presences were also detected. Soapstone bowls, pans, and cups were the primary products of the Late Archaic quarrying and manufacturing efforts at 9BA65. Some inferences are proposed regarding possible sources of vessel styles, site chronology, and possible destinations of soapstone products based on vessel morphology. Quarry tools ranged from formal, to semi-curated, to expedient. The current study produced very few lithic items that can be classified as non-local. The formal tools were made from diabase and amphibolite, while the less formal and expedient tools were made primarily of locally available amphibolite and quartz. The large soapstone outcrop was heavily exploited, but not exhausted. Quarriers used the soapstone which was above-ground during the Late Archaic, and excavated around the base of the outcrop to expose more raw material. Soapstone bowl preforms left behind on the outcrop indicate that the outcrop contained workable soapstone when quarrying ceased at this site. Discreet soapstone bowl production and quarry tool manufacturing workshop areas were identified around the outcrop. No evidence of habitation was identified at 9BA65.