Communications Tower Site No. GA-7021-D Springfield, Stillwell Road, Effingham County, Georgia

On November 8, 2000, an archeological survey of the Springfield tower site was conducted by R.S. Webb & Associates for Terracon on behalf of Site Design Services. The survey was conducted because, on September 19, 2000, the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) issued a letter stating that the above referenced tower site is located in an area with the potential for containing archeological sites (Figures 1 and 2). The HPD requested that an archeological survey be conducted of the study site. The proposed Springfield telecommunications tower site, is a 250-foot monopole located on Stillwell Road near Springfield in Effingham County, Georgia (Figure 1). The project area sits on a slope base and consists of a 100 by 100-foot lease area (Figure 2). The project area is wooded and near a residential area. Standard shovel testing and surface inspection techniques were used during the archeological survey. Shovel testing involved the excavation of a 1.0-foot diameter pit to subsoil. Shovel test soils were screened through 0.25-inch hardware cloth to enhance the recovery of artifacts. Four shovel tests were excavated within the tower pad site and surface inspection was done along the access area (Figure 2). Random exposed surfaces were observed and inspected for artifacts during the survey. Given the limited surface exposure, shovel testing was the primary means of searching for archeological resources in the project area. Shovel testing revealed 6.0 to 10.0 inches of disturbed grey sandy loam over a light brown subsoil clay. This indicates that the study area has been subjected to significant disturbance through recent clearing. No archeological deposits or artifacts were detected during the survey of the Springfield tower site. An archeological field survey was conducted for the proposed Springfield tower site. No evidence of archeological sites was detected during this study. The tower site is severely disturbed and it is our opinion that the proposed tower will have no effect on archeological sites. No additional archeological work is recommended for the proposed Springfield tower site.