An Archaeological Remote-Sensing Survey of Sections of North Newport River and Paynce Creek, Liberty County, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc. is working to identify historically significant cultural resources that may be impacted by the construction of a boat launching facility and floating dock in Payne Creek and a dock in the North Newport River, Liberty County, Georgia. In conjunction with the terrestrial research, BA requested that Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc., of Washington, North Carolina conduct the river portion of the survey for the proposed project areas. In order to determine the proposed project's effects on potentially significant submerged cultural resources, Tidewater Atlantic Research conducted a magnetometer and side-scan sonar survey of the proposed project area. Field research for the project was conducted on 1 June 2010. Analysis of the remote-sensing data generated during the survey identified a total of 21 magnetic anomalies. Six of the magnetic anomalies had an associated acoustic signature indicative of crab traps. Ten individual anomalies are small single source signatures that appear to have been generated by modem debris such as fish and crab traps, pipes, small diameter rods, cable, wire rope, chain, small boat anchors. No additional investigation of those anomalies is recommended in conjunction with the proposed project. One anomaly cluster, composed of 5 magnetic anomalies, has signature characteristics consistent with shipwreck material and/ or other potentially significant submerged cultural resources. This cluster is formed by spatially associated anomalies and is recommended for avoidance by the creation of a 200-foot radius buffer zone. Should avoidance prove impossible, additional investigation is recommended to identify the material generating the anomaly and assess its significance in terms of National Register of Historic Places eligibility. If the buffered anomalies are avoided, proposed project construction will have no impact on submerged cultural resources.