An Intensive Cultural Resource Assessment of the Ebenezer Middle School Property, Effingham County, Georgia

An intensive cultural resource assessment survey was performed by Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI), Savannah, Georgia, on +117 acres in Effingham County, Georgia where the Effingham County Board of Education proposes to construct a middle school and high school are the next several years. The study area was investigated for James W. Buckley and Associates, Inc., Swainsboro, Georgia, in order to meet obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The following report was prepared to meet federal and state guidelines, and in accordance with the Georgia Preservation Plan (Crook 1986a; GDNR 1989; GSHPO 1992). The goals of the investigation were to locate all prehistoric and historic sites within the project area, and to assess their significance and potential eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NR) as mandated by federal laws and guidelines (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], Title 36, Chapter VIII, Part 800 [36 CFR 800]). Field survey methods included a pedestrian inspection and shovel test sampling at 30 and 15 meter intervals. Shovel testing was performed in areas of limited surface visibility, excluding areas marked by extensive erosion, steep slopes and standing water. Particular attention was given to benches, terraces, high ridges and other level, elevated landforms with proximity to water. All shovel tests measured > 30 centimeters in diameter and were dug to sterile soil. Reduced interval testing was used to bound and evaluate locations where artifacts were recovered. Two prehistoric sites (9EF246 and 9EF247) and one historic site (9EF248) were identified via transect-based shovel testing. Site 9EF246 consisted of one potsherd and chert debitage; Site 9EF247 consisted solely of chert debitage; and 9EF248 consisted of the remains from a moonshine still. Because of a lack of integrity, disturbed strata, clarity, and research potential, no additional work at any site is recommended. None of the sites are considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the proposed school construction projects proceed without concern for impact to significant cultural resources.