An Archaeological Damage Assessment of Site 9CE1207: A Multi Component Archaeological Resource Fort Benning Military Reservation Chattahoochee County, Georgia

This report describes archaeological looting at site 9Ce1207 on the Fort Benning Military Reservation in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. The looted site is situated along Upatoi Creek, in Compartment K-10. Serious violations of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act have occurred at 9Cel 207 over the past three to five years. A 728.42 square foot area (67.7 square meters) comprising about one percent of the core portion of this archaeological resource has been destroyed by looting. Archaeological testing indicates that this site is stratified and contains at least four aboriginal components (Historic Lower Creek, Early to Middle Woodland, Late Archaic/Gulf Formational, and Early Archaic). Although no cultural features were identified during the limited testing, conditions are favorable for their preservation, and features are probably present. It is possible that Native American burials also exist at 9Ce1207. Looting has resulted in the loss of archaeological information once present in about twelve hundred cubic feet (34 cubic meters) of cultural deposits. The value of the damaged portion of the site, calculated by determining the total cost for professional excavation, analysis and reporting of a comparable site volume, is between $34,000 (@ 1000/cubic meter) and $102,000 (@ 3,000/cubic meter). The remaining portions of the site are at risk. Recommendations are made for the mitigation of the existing looting damage, and measures are suggested for reducing the threat of further looting. The disturbed areas should be archaeologically excavated, recorded, and backfilled, capped with sterile fill, and finally stabilized by planting suitable vegetation. (The cost of mitigation and site restoration is estimated at $51,000 to $153,000). Recommendations that could reduce the future incidence of looting at site 9Ce1207 and other sites at Fort Benning are suggested. These include posting informative warning signs at vulnerable sites and access points; monitoring threatened sites, using both remote sensing devices and periodic spot checks; controlling vehicular access to sensitive sites by erecting gates or other barriers on access roads; instituting a historic preservation awareness program among hunters; and promoting general public support for archaeological resource conservation through educational outreach and a public archaeology program.