Phase II Archaeological Investigation, Former Savannah Manufactured Gas Plant Site, Chatham County, Georgia

In April of 2000, TRC Garrow Associates, Inc. (TRC), undertook a Phase II archaeological investigation of the former Savannah Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site in Chatham County, Georgia. The former MGP site is located at the southeast corner of East Bay and East Broad streets, within the Savannah National Historic Landmark (NHL) District. The MGP operated from 1850 to 1953, merging with Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) in 1966. AGLC currently owns the property. TRC conducted the Phase II archaeological investigation at the request of ThermoRetec, which, in accordance with Georgia Environmental Protection Division requirements, will be undertaking remediation of the site to remove impact from soils and groundwater. The Phase II investigation. has not been triggered by the need to comply with federal cultural resource laws and regulations, such as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The project has, instead, been initiated by AGLC and ThermoRetec at the request of the Historic Savannah Foundation and other interested local parties. The Phase II investigation was preceded by detailed research of the land use history of the site, which was presented in the Phase I report (Pietak and Holland 1999). The goal of the Phase I investigation was to identify sections of the project area with high potential for containing intact cultural deposits related to the prehistoric and historic utilization of this wellsituated tract on the Savannah River. Based on the extensive historic and documentary research of the project area described in the Phase I report and on an examination of reports and maps summarizing the results of environmental assessments conducted at the site, TRC identified sections of the project area that possessed a high potential for containing intact cultural deposits. During the Phase H archaeological investigation, trenches were excavated in these high potential areas to locate any intact cultural materials. Due to the great depth of these trenches which often exceeded 15 feet below surface, video equipment was utilized to record stratigraphy and cultural features uncovered during excavation. Although several features related to the MGP such as pipes and a probable brick pier were uncovered, no cultural deposits or features clearly dating to occupations preceding the operation of the plant were identified.