Cultural Resources Survey of the Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract Chatham County, Georgia

In September 2003, Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted a cultural resources survey of sections of the Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract, located in Chatham County, Georgia for the Chatham County Engineering Department. The Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract contains approximately 200 hectares, including 80 hectares of uplands and 120 hectares of wetlands. We examined 26.7 hectares of uplands where ground disturbing activities will occur. The remaining uplands will not be affected. This survey includes a review of the history of land ownership and use through public documents, a review of previous investigations near the Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract, and the excavation of shovel tests at 30 meter intervals across the examined portions of the project tract. This cultural resources survey was undertaken to provide information concerning the kinds of cultural resources present on the tract and how these resources may affect the future use of the tract. This cultural resources survey was conducted in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations concerning the management of cultural resources as administered by the Regulatory Program of the US Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR 325, Appendix C). We identified four cultural resources during the survey of the Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract. These include a nineteenth century artifact scatter identified as archaeological site 9CH 1054 and three isolated finds. Isolates l through 3 contain assorted historic artifacts. We recommend these resources not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Development and use of the examined portions of the Chatham County Mitigation Bank Tract will not affect any historic properties. Ground disturbing activities within the examined portion of the tract should be allowed to proceed without further consideration of cultural resources. If, during ground disturbing activities, previously unidentified cultural resources are identified within the project tract, the construction contractors should halt work in the immediate area of the cultural resource and immediately notify the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District.