Phase II Archaeological Testing of Site 9LE56 Palmyra-Century Transmission Line

On September 13-15th, 1999, Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted archaeological testing at Site 9LE56 along the proposed Palmyra-Century Transmission Line corridor in Lee County, Georgia. Site 9LE56 is located on the west bank of Kinchafoonee Creek within and adjacent to the southern segment of the proposed transmission line. Previous investigations at 9LE56 (Whitley and Jordan 1999) consisted of sixteen shovel tests. Eleven contained cultural materials. Due to the lack of site disturbance and the volume and density of artifacts, the site was recommended potentially eligible for nomination to the NRHP. In the current investigations of seven additional shovel tests were excavated at 15 meter intervals in accordance with the survey site map. Six of the shovel tests yielded positive results and contained large quantities of lithic debris. Artifacts were also recovered from one 1 by 2 and one 1 by 1 meter test units. Testing artifacts consist of pottery fragments, flakes and core fragments, and heat treated lithic debris. Unit 201 extended 110 cm below the ground surface. The soil consisted of grayish/yellow sand. Unit 202 extended 12 cm below the ground surface. The soil consisted of humus underlain by compacted red clay. No evidence of intact buried features was encountered. Results of archaeological testing and evaluation at 9LE56 indicate that, a portion of 9LE56 will be impacted by the proposed transmission line construction. However, results of archaeological testing indicate that this area contains no significant cultural deposits. Although the concentration of artifacts within the proposed project right-of-way included a high density of lithic debris, the area to be impacted by proposed construction does not contribute to a recommendation of NRHP eligibility. Site use appears to have been for lithic procurement and processing. The sandy soil has caused a large degree of vertical displacement of artifacts, and there is no clear stratigraphic delineation of temporal sequencing. The small quantity of diagnostic artifacts and the absence of preserved subsurface features contributes to a recommendation of ineligibility for the area within the project right-of-way. Brockington and Associates, Inc., therefore recommends that no additional archaeological survey, testing, or mitigation is necessary within the project right-of-way.