Cultural Resource Walkover of Certain Portions of the Herbert Smart Airport, Macon, Georgia.

A cultural resource walkover was conducted at the Herbert Smart Airport, Macon, Georgia by a representative of the Columbus Museum of Arts and Sciences, Inc. on October 5 and 6, 1977. The walkover areas included an enlarged clear zone at the end of runway 9, an enlarged clear zone at the end of runway 27, a small triangular plot of land at the north end of the airport near projected hangers, a small area in the vicinity of a projected taxiway, and a strip parallel to runway 27-9 (marked A through E on attached map). Since the end of runway 9 is in such close proximity to three important archeological type sites careful attention was paid to determining whether subsidiary or associated sites might be located in the areas examined. The end of runway 9 is approximately 8000 feet from the Site area, 8000 feet from another Site, and 8000 feet from another Site. All exposed and eroded surfaces were examined for .the presence of cultural resources. No standing structures of historical significance are located in the areas examined. Because of heavy undergrowth in the projected clear zones beyond the ends of runway 27-9, a series of shovel tests were made in these areas (marked A and B on map). The locations of these shovel tests are marked with numbers within each area on the attached map. No cultural remains of any kind were located in these two areas. The small triangular area at the north end of the airport (marked C on map) is an eroded hillside and shows no evidence of cultural remains. The only cultural remains located in the walkover areas were at the locations D and E on the map. The area marked D had only a light scattering of relatively recent debris and there was no evidence of subsurface features. In the area marked E, early twentieth century debris was located, including glazed ware, broken glass, and brick. The clusters of this material within area E are marked on the map. The only in situ cluster of material was at the cluster marked 3-in area E where there appeared to be the remains of a brick foundation or wall. The bricks of this cluster had been impressed a maker's mark (GRAVES-B'HAM,ALA.). The dimensions of these bricks are 22.5 x 9.5 x 8 centimeters. Although Swift Creek is located to the south of the airport and the Ocmulgee River is to the southwest and west, there are no remaining natural drainages on any of the walkover areas and there is no evidence that any major drainages existed in the past. Therefore, it is not too surprising that no prehistoric cultural resources were located. The historic cultural resources of early twentieth century vintage formed in the area marked E do not have sufficient antiquity or integrity to warrent mitigation. It is our recommendation that no mitigation is necessary in the areas where walkovers were conducted.