Archaeological Resources Survey and Testing of the Montgomery Project Tract, Greene County, Georgia

From June 20th through July 22nd, 2005, Southeastern Archaeological Services, Inc. (SAS) conducted Phase I archaeological resources survey of the approximately 115 acre (46 hectare) Montgomery tract in Greene County, Georgia for the Reynolds Plantation (Figure 1). The survey results produced 17 archaeological sites (two of which have been previously recorded -Table 1). Between September 25th and October 14th, 2005, B&A conducted intensive Phase II testing of three of these sites (9GE2173, 9GE2174, and 9GE2178) to determine their eligibility for nomination to the NRHP. Both the survey and testing investigations were undertaken as a due diligence action, as no federal permitting is required for the undertaking. For the purposes of this action, however all standards established by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) have been used; including use of the same terminology and NRHP-eligibility criteria. Table 1 summarizes the nature of each of the sites identified, or revisited, during the Phase I survey and further investigated through Phase II testing. This report presents the findings of both the survey and testing projects. Background research was conducted at the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF), at the University of Georgia, in Athens. Review of those files and associated documents related to prior surveys (e.g. DePratter 1976a; Whitley et al. 2006) resulted in the identification of two previously recorded archaeological resources (9GE308; 9GE2184) with at least a part of their recorded boundaries within the project tract (Figure 2). Site 9GE308 was initially identified as part of the Wallace Reservoir Survey (DePratter 1976a) and had not previously undergone testing. Site 9GE2184 was recorded during the Port Armor East/Hardin North tract survey which occurred concurrently with this project. Another 140 archaeological sites are known from within a 1 mile radius of the project tract (see Figure 2), and typically were also recorded during the Wallace surveys (i.e. DePratter 1976a; Elliott and Jefferies 1978), or as part of the extended Reynolds Plantation or Georgia Power on-going surveys (e.g. Ledbetter 2003; Brockington and Associates 1996; Whitley et al. 2006). The previously recorded sites in the region represent a wide range of occupations and functions; from Archaic through twentieth century, and from activity areas to habitation sites to cemeteries. The most common NRHP-eligible localities tend to be Lamar period farmsteads or settlements. For example, 43 percent of the previously recorded and recommended eligible sites within one mile of the project tract have primary Lamar period occupations (nine out of 21 sites) while at least another eight previously recorded Lamar sites are NRHP-eligibility unknown (two other Lamar sites have been determined ineligible). The remaining archaeological occurrences that tend to be considered eligible (or whose eligibility is yet to be determined) are Archaic and Mississippian habitation sites, Antebellum plantation remains, historic cemeteries, and nineteenth/twentieth century tenant house sites; but only those which retain good integrity. Many other sites occur, such as prehistoric and historic period artifact scatters, small quartz quarries, and remnant landscape features. However, they tend to evidence severe erosive deflation and a particular loss of integrity. They are less often recommended NRHP-eligible.