Archaeological Resources Survey of a Proposed New Interchange at the Intersection of Island Expressway and US 80/ SR 26, Chatham County, Georgia

On 11 March 1994, archaeologists from Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted an archaeological survey of a proposed new interchange location at the intersection of Islands Expressway and US Highway 80/State Route 26, on Whitemarsh Island, Chatham County, Georgia. The purpose of the archaeological investigation was to relocate a previously documented archaeological site, 9CM(DOT)5, and to evaluate this site relative to National Register of Historic Places eligibility. Previous archaeological survey at 9CM(DOT)5 (Hart 1983; Entorf 1994) indicated potential for preservation of prehistoric cultural features within the proposed area of potential effect. Cultural resources investigations included background research and field survey. The background research included review of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files and the listings of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and examination of primary and secondary texts and relevant historic maps. The field survey consisted of screened shovel testing at 15 meter intervals in median and shoulder areas of Islands Expressway and shoulder areas of a frontage road, Penrose Drive. No NRHP listed properties are present within one mile of the project corridor. Prehistoric cultural material (five simple stamped ceramic sherds) was recovered in one of 39 shovel tests excavated in the project corridor area. Subsequent excavation of a 50 cm by 50 cm test unit at this location recovered 2 additional sherds within a mixed, disturbed soil context. No additional archaeological deposits were discovered during survey. Analysis of archaeological survey and background research indicates that archaeological site 9CM(DOT)5 (recently recorded as 9CH693) has been destroyed by previous highway construction and should no longer be considered potentially eligible for the NRHP. Proposed interchange construction will have no effect on significant archaeological deposits. Archaeological clearance to construct is recommended.