Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Expansion Areas at the vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Burke County

As a result of the archaeological survey of proposed expansion areas at Plant Vogtle in Burke County, Georgia 10 new archaeological sites were identified as well as seven isolated finds. None of the sites recorded by Nick Honerkamp in 1973 were encountered. Of the 10 sites identified, two (9BK419 and 9BK420) are recommended as potentially eligible and two others (9BK416 and 9BK423) are recommended as eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The remaining six sites are recommended as ineligible since they have very little integrity and/or cannot address any significant research questions regarding the history or prehistory of the middle Savannah River Valley. In addition to the archaeological survey, a geomorphological study was performed along the river bluff to determine if deep excavations for the water intake line would damage deeply deposited cultural resources or encounter paleontological resources. The results of this study are provided in Chapter VI. The two potentially eligible sites and two eligible sites are prehistoric settlements or camps and have relatively deep and intact deposits. It is recommended that they be avoided if possible. If the sites cannot be avoided Phase II testing or Phase III data recovery is recommended. No further work is recommended for the remaining six sites. This report also presents the results of background research to identify sites and structures determined eligible for or are listed in the National Register of Historic Places within 10 miles of Plant Vogtle and within 1.2 miles of the Thalmann line, which runs south a distance of 159 miles and the Scherer line which runs west for a distance of 154 miles.