Phase III Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 9FN341

From July 17 to August 25, 2006, and from March 19 to 23, 2007, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington), on behalf of Blue Ridge Golf and River Holdings, LLC, carried out Phase III archaeological data recovery field investigations at Site 9FN341, Fannin County, Georgia (Figure 1.1). The site is believed to represent the remains of a late prehistoric Mississippian village or farmstead. Site 9FN341 was initially recorded by Brockington during an intensive Phase I cultural resources survey (Hutchings and Atz 2005) of a 365-acre tract proposed for a golf course and river club development (Figure 1.2). The proposed undertaking requires a federal permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and therefore necessitates compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470), as amended, and with regulations implementing this legislation (36 CFR Part 800: Protection of Historic Properties). 9FN341 is located near the state's boundary with North Carolina and Tennessee, and lies within the McCaysville Basin District of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. It is situated on the northeast floodplain of the Toccoa River in the city of Blue Ridge. The site is oriented parallel to the river, in a northwest to southeast direction (see Figure 1.1). It measures approximately 750 meters (2,461 feet) long and 90 meters (295 feet) wide. Much of 9FN341 is situated approximately 495 meters (1,500 ft) above mean sea level (amsl) on the first terrace of an alluvial floodplain. The site is bordered on the east by a steep rise, the base of which has an elevation of 528 meters (1,600 ft) amsl. Results from intensive and systematic shovel testing during Phase I cultural resources survey of theproject tract suggested that the archaeological deposits of Site 9FN341 contain significant Native American materials dating from the Early/ Middle Mississippian to the protohistoric period. Ceramic artifacts recovered during Phase I survey have been attributed to the Hiwassee Island phase (AD 1100-1300) known from sites in southeastern Tennessee, the Lamar phase (AD 1350-1600) of north and central Georgia, and the Qualla phase (AD 1400-1700) from sites on the Appalachian Summit in what is today southwest North Carolina. Based on the findings from Phase I cultural resources survey, the USACE, Savannah District, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (GA HPD), determined Site 9FN341 should be considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) because of its potential to contribute important information to our understanding of Mississippian period occupation in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in general, and the McCaysville Basin and Toccoa River Valley, in particular. Phase II archaeological testing was not undertaken at Site 9FN341 as the information provided from Phase I survey level investigations was deemed sufficient to make an eligibility determination for listing on the NRHP.