Archaeological Mitigation of Sites 9CE2113, 9CE2478, and 9CE2479 for Fort Benning Military Reservation, Chattahoochee County, Georgia

Under a continuing services contract with the U.S. Army Infantry Center, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Panamerican Consultants, Inc. (PCI) conducted a series of Phase III archaeological mitigations at three sites within the reservation. The objective of this excavation was to mitigate as much of the sites as possible before construction activities commenced. This work was undertaken in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended; Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment); and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974. A total of three sites (9CE2113, 9CE2478, and 9CE2479) were excavated during this set of Phase III excavations. Multiple components were recorded during the investigations ranging from the Paleoindian period to the twentieth century. Late Archaic and Woodland components were the predominant chronologic marker noted at each of the sites. The bulk of the materials collected consisted of broken lithic debitage. A minor collection of ceramic material was also recovered from each site. Only a single feature was recorded during the investigations. All of the evidence points to the three sites being used as small, temporary hunting or base camps. No evidence of long term habitation was found. Only one of the sites (9CE2478) actually contained intact stratigraphy and cultural materials. The two larger sites (9CE2113 and 9CE2479) appeared to have undisturbed deposits (although this assumption was based on a very small Phase II sample) but were quickly shown to have mixed cultural components. Although a significant portion of all three sites have been mitigated, large portions of the sites still remain unexcavated. Construction activities should be cautious of potential human remains, even though the likelihood is very low.