Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc., has completed a cultural resources survey of the Farmer's Bottom Dispersed Recreation Area, located in Compartment 205 of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Stephens County, Georgia. The goal of this cultural resources survey was to identify all potentially significant archaeological and historical resources within the project area and to evaluate the eligibility of the identified resources for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Fieldwork for this project was conducted from July 9-11, 2013. No extant structures are located anywhere within the current project area. During the cultural resources survey, we revisited one previously recorded archaeological site (9ST62). No other cultural resources were discovered within the project area. Archaeological site 9ST62 is a light to moderate surface and subsurface scatter of ceramic and lithic artifacts. Diagnostic ceramics recovered at the site during this investigation suggest the site is related to a Lamar occupation; however, current data are not sufficient to refine the temporal position of the site within this Late Mississippian/Protohistoric manifestation. The ground surface of the site exhibits varying degrees of disturbance from recreation/camping and off-road vehicular activities. However, shovel tests excavated across the site indicate that artifacts are located below the plow zone and one shovel test exhibited darker soils below the plow zone, which may indicate an intact subsurface cultural feature. Given the time period of the cultural deposits and the presence of subplow zone artifacts at the site, the likelihood of intact subsurface/sub-plow zone cultural deposits is considered high. However, current data are not sufficient to determine the integrity of the subsurface cultural deposits at site 9ST62. As such, we recommend this site remain undetermined for the NRHP. This site should be protected from ground-disturbing activities. If a strategy of protection and avoidance is not feasible, then additional archaeological investigations should be undertaken to determine the nature and integrity of the cultural deposits at the site.
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