An Intensive Cultural Resource Assessment Survey of the Lyman Hall North Parcel, Liberty County, Georgia

During August and September of 2007, an intensive cultural resource assessment survey (CRAS) was conducted by Bland and Associates, Inc. (BAI) of the Lyman Hall North parcel in Liberty County, Georgia. This project was undertaken to comply with federal and state regulations regarding the identification and management of historic properties that might occur within the project tract. The taxpayer identification number (TPIN) for the parcel under investigation is C39-0007. In more general terms, the project tract lies well northwest of the town of Midway, and extends along the length of Luke Road; Luke Road connects US Highway 17 (US 17) and State Road (SR) 196. This survey was undertaken at the request of Lyman Hall, LLC, of Fleming, Georgia. The purpose of the proposed project is to build a residential development with associated roadways and drainage systems. The goals of this project were to locate, identify, delineate, and evaluate cultural resources within the ± 1055.08 acre project tract. The term "cultural resources" as used herein is meant to refer to those districts, structures, sites and objects that would qualify as "historic properties" as the latter term is defined in 36 CFR 800.16(1), as those such entities meeting the criteria for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places given at 36 CFR 60.4. The project tract did not contain any previously recorded cultural resources, or standing structures. During field work, a total of 871 shovel tests was excavated within the project tract, and fifteen of these shovel tests (n=15) were positive for cultural material (n=56 artifacts). These artifacts were found to be clustered within four artifact scatters (9LI1628, 9LI1629, 9LI1630, and 9LI1631) and four, Isolated Finds (IF), or IF 1-4. These archaeological sites were found to consist of very low density, prehistoric and historic artifact scatters which were wholly confined to the plowzone. The prehistoric artifacts appear to represent short-term camp sites utilized during several phases of prehistory; based on the four projectile point knives (PPK) recovered from the project tract, it appears most likely that these locations were used for hunting activities. The historic component of the site appears related to the use of the project tract during the 20th century as an agricultural and silvicultural area. Overall, shovel testing indicated the tract was very disturbed in most areas due to earth moving activities related to agriculture, timber cutting, and road construction. Based upon the absence of intact occupational strata, the lack of artifact concentrations as demonstrated through extensive delineation testing, the sparse nature of the artifact assemblage recovered these sites, the extensive disturbances these sites have sustained, and the work already conducted, there does not appear to be a potential for future research at four sites. These sites failed to demonstrate the integrity, distinction, or research potential meeting the criteria listed in Title 36, Part 60 of the Code of Federal Regulations for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. They are recommended ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP, and no further archaeological investigation or preservation is recommended. Although the recorded location and boundaries of these sites have provided useful data for the development of regional settlement studies, it is recommended that this project be allowed to proceed as planned without further concern for impacts to significant cultural resources.