An Archaeological Survey of the Tom B. David Airport, Calhoun, Georgia

During the time period from August 3 through August 10, 1977, an archaeological reconnaissance of the Tom B. David Airport, Calhoun, Georgia, was conducted along Oothkalooga Creek and the adjacent areas which are to be affected by the replacement and expansion of the existing runway and a new runway which is to be constructed to accommodate both more and larger aircraft. The purpose of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological and historical sites and to determine whether such sites were likely to be destroyed or damaged by subsequent construction, In the course of the survey, twelve archaeological sites were located and tested to determine what, if any, significance they had as cultural resources. This report is the result of field surveying, literature review, interviews, and laboratory analysis of the archaeological data obtained in August, 1977. The entire survey area was examined on foot. A posthole digger, shovel and trowel, frontend loader and backhoe were the equipment used in testing the sites encountered. Although some of the land had been cultivated and was covered by soybeans, making surveying difficult, nearly all 200 acres received equal attention, and it is believed that the sample recovered is representative of the cultural resources in the area. The aboriginal sites which were located in the survey area were generally small, although one of relatively substantial extent was found. The sites were predominately inhabited during the Archaic period of the Eastern United States, and indicate small clusters of aboriginal populations existing around Oothkalooga Creek from 8000 B.C. until 2000 B.C. This temporal habitation of the area is quite significant, for apparently groups that used horticulture and were more sedentary during the subsequent Woodland and Mississippian periods found the area unsuited to their mode of living. Although some events of historic significance did occur ·in areas adjacent to the survey area, no historic sites (other than the remains of recently abandoned dwellings) were found.