An Archaeological Assessment of the Kings Bay Cattle Dipping Vat Site (9Cam208)

The purpose of this report is to present the findings of a recently conducted archeological site assessment survey on the U.S. Navy's Trident Submarine facility located at Kings Bay, Georgia (Figure 1). As construction schedules and needs mandate, selected areas of the Kings Bay facility are subjected to additional archeological research. In this view, Phase I reconnaissance level survey or Phase II, intensive testing is conducted to better define the archeological and/or historic sites previously identified during the original 1977-78 University of Florida archeological survey, or to determine the presence and/or significance of additional sites located on the facility. The area selected for current survey is located within the northeastern portion of the U. S. Naval facility at Kings Bay. In general the survey area lies adjacent to archeological sites 9Caml70, the Rabbit Run site, as well as site. 9Caml71, the Kings Bay site. These sites were previously identified by the University of Florida survey conducted during 1977 and 1978 (Smith 1978); and have recently been subjected to additional testing (at Phase II levels), (Smith 1981). Although portions of the above sites have been previously examined during the original survey, not all portions of the sites in question were fully investigated (i.e. precise site limits remained undefined, especially at 9Caml70). During recent land clearing and modification practices conducted by the U. S. Navy in the vicinity of the Etowah Park recreation area, evidence was obtained to suggest a high probability of the presence of a cattle dipping vat, reportedly made of tabby. This site was also reported to be in an area near archeological sites 9Caml70 and 9CamI71. The purpose then of this reconnaissance survey was to determine the presence or absence of a reported cattle dipping vat, as well as to perform limited archeological testing of the area in an attempt to define any additional structures or other features which might be present at the dipping vat or within the survey area. Further, plans were developed to initiate a historic preservation effort designed to clear the existing vegetation from around the vat such that precise mapping and photographs could be prepared. Following completion of the fieldwork a report would be prepared of project findings complete with recommendations for the manipulation of the dipping vat or any additional site components should they be identified during project fieldwork. The following report details the research strategy and findings used to conduct the assessment of the dipping vat as well as its findings. Based upon the established Scope of Work for this project, a systematic sampling procedure, in the form of screened subsurface shovel tests, was employed to establish the presence or absence of archeological or historic materials or features adjacent to the dipping vat. Secondary or intensive testing of the site was not undertaken at the present level of investigation. The 10-day fieldwork portion of this project was conducted during November, 1985 under the author's supervision by Chip Huston, who served as Project Archeologist. The field crew was composed of Scott Hudson and Terry Groover. Mrs. Eloise Y. Bailey of St. Marys assisted the author in final report preparation by conducting a limited study into the history of the use of cattle dipping vats in the Camden County area. The author wishes to thank each of these persons for their assistance in the completion of this project.