Final Archaeological Inventory for the Moundville Collection 1998-2004

The purpose of this report is to document the results of a several years of survey, testing, construction monitoring, and other archaeological activities on Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Houston County, Georgia. Archaeological sites 9Ht3O, 9Ht33, 9Ht46, 9Ht49, 9Ht52, and 9Ht54 were subjected to testing to evaluate the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of each. The testing of each began with a close-interval posthole survey to identify artifact concentrations, define the limits of the site area, and provide an assessment of the soil stratigraphy of the artifacts within the site area prior to the placement and excavation of test units. During the survey portion of the testing, it was determined that 9Ht52 is not an actual archaeological site but was originally defined on the basis of prehistoric artifacts in introduced top soil fill resting on more non-local fill. No test units were excavated. The survey portion of the testing at 9Ht49 showed that here, too, the historic artifacts were confined to the top soil fill. This fill is spread over the heavily borrowed area originally defined as 9Ht49. No test units were excavated. Neither 9Ht52 nor 9Ht49 are valid cultural properties, although King Cemetery within the originally defined 9Ht49-site area still warrants protection. It is recommended that 9Ht52 and 9Ht49 be removed from the roster of archaeological properties at Robins AFB but be retained as isolated finds. The survey portion of the testing at 9Ht54 similarly demonstrated that the southern part of the originally defined site area was based on the artifacts contained within the veneer of fill spread over the natural soil; however, a valid archaeological site was found adjacent to the northern part of the originally defined 9Ht54-site area. The 9Ht54-site area was redefined based on the results of this survey. The results of testing demonstrated that the prehistoric site is not NRHP-eligible. The previous limited surveys coupled with the survey part of the testing at 9Ht46 resulted in the definition of the 9Ht46-site area and the identification of several isolated finds. The results of testing demonstrated that the site contains several prehistoric cultural components in a variety of soil-stratigraphic contexts. A former base skeet range was also detected in the southern portion -of the site area. The results indicate that the site is NRHP-eligible. Because of the erosion associated with the 91-106-site area, it is recommended that steps be taken to reduce or eliminate the surface erosion to stop the exposure of artifacts that could lead to unauthorized artifact collecting or potentially prompt looting. The results of the posthole survey of the 91-103-site area resulted in a significant reduction in the size of the site area from that originally defined. The site was found to contain multiple components in a limited area adjacent to an upland Black Gum pond. The results of the testing indicate that 9Ht33 is unique with respect to its geographical and environmental setting and recommended as NRHP-eligible at the local level. Accordingly, an NRHP nomination package has been prepared, and a copy is included in this report in Appendix A. The results of the posthole survey of the 91-100-site area resulted in an expansion of the site area to include an area originally defined as "Occurrence 4" (0.4) based on the original survey. Multiple components are present in this upland site sitting adjacent to a peat bog. The results of the testing indicate that 9Ht30 sits in a unique environmental setting and possesses cultural resources that are absent at other, nearby NRHP-eligible sites in similar settings. Site 9Ht30 thus complements the local diverse archaeological record and is recommended NRHP-eligible at the local level. A copy of the NRHP nomination package is included in this report in Appendix A. The site does suffer from erosion along Perimeter Road that must be reduced or eliminated not only to protect the site from potential unauthorized artifact collecting but also to protect the nearby wetland. Limited testing was also conducted at sites 9Ht43 and 9Ht42 along the route of the proposed force main in advance of the construction. This testing documented the presence of multiple components in the often deep soils along and near the bluff-edge route. No significant cultural resources were encountered in the test units at either site; however, monitoring of soil-disturbing activities, particularly within the 9Ht43-site area, encountered potentially significant cultural resources. It is recommended that Site 9Ht43 receive a close-interval survey sufficiently deep to document the distribution of the cultural resources, and be subjected to testing to determine NRHP eligibility. NRHP-eligible Site 9Ht42 has an erosion problem in the eastern site area and in the southeast horse pasture area. Artifacts collected by contractors in the eastern site area are periodically donated, but the area requires stabilization to prevent further site destruction as well as unauthorized artifact collecting and possible looting. Site 9Ht170, a site previously determined to be NRHP-ineligible, was subjected to limited testing to provide field experience for Dr. JoAnna Watson's Mercer University archaeological students. The limited testing produced a few diagnostic and semidiagnostic artifacts, but these results do not challenge the NRHP ineligibility of the site. Several areas of the base were subjected to Phase I surveys, notably Pine Oaks Golf Course fairways, resulting in the identification of one previously unknown prehistoric archaeological site-9Htl 90-and several isolated finds. It is recommended that Site 9Htl90 be subjected to testing to evaluate its NRHP eligibility. In the interim, Site 9Ht190 is considered potentially NRHP-eligible. The small surveys also provided the data necessary to redefine portions of the 9Ht43-site area as well as highlight the distributional patterns of its cultural resources within the surveyed areas. These small surveys have also identified additional several isolated finds on Robins AFB. Archaeological monitoring of construction activities involving earth moving was performed on NRHP-eligible sites 9Ht40 and 9Ht42, and potentially NRHP-eligible sites 9Ht43, 9Ht45, 9Ht46, and 9Ht47. The monitoring was conducted in accordance with the particular mitigation plan submitted to the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for that site. The archaeological monitoring of the force main project, the repair electrical distribution system (REDS) project, the Combat Information Transport System (CITS) project, the installation of parcourse stations, and the sidewalk widening in Site 9Ht43 resulted in the identification of one Middle Woodland pit feature and the successful recovery of many diagnostic artifacts as well as a few unique or rare artifacts, and further aided the definition of the site area. Although fewer projects required archaeological monitoring at the other sites, these efforts also successfully recovered a number of diagnostic and a few unique artifacts. The remaining archaeological work conducted over the past six years consists of surface collection of artifacts from poorly vegetated areas (e.g., 9Ht42) and areas disturbed by construction (e.g., 9Ht43) or logging (e.g., 9Ht55). In addition, a few artifacts have been found by individuals living or working on base and donated to the Environmental Management Directorate (EM). These artifacts are considered isolated finds. These various projects have resulted in the redefinition of several cultural properties on Robins AFB. The redefined locations and areas are presented in Table 1. The locations of the isolated finds documented in this report are presented in Table 2. In addition, Georgia Archaeological Site Forms that provide revisions to previous forms are included in Appendix B. Two minor cultural resources management issues have appeared as a result of this work. The first issue involves the probable combining of two separate cultural properties, based on both the landscape and the results of the original Phase I survey, into the area currently defined as Site 9Ht47. It is recommended that the currently defined site area be investigated in such a manner as to identify and define the areas of primary artifact contexts while excluding those areas of secondary and tertiary artifact contexts. The second issue involves the potential presence of a cultural property, apparently confined to the Crescent Drive right of way and the adjacent southwestern portion of the south horse pasture, which has thus far been missed by the various archaeological surveys. The potential cultural property was detected while monitoring an excavation for a manhole and has been given the designation A&S-IF-38. It is recommended that the locale be subjected to a close-interval survey to define the spatial and soil-stratigraphic distribution of the encountered artifacts.