"Archaeological Research Design and Data

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) proposes improvements to SR 204/Abercorn Extension in Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed undertaking would have direct construction impacts on archaeological site 9CH1205, which is located on a wooded tract northwest of the intersection of SR 204 and King George Boulevard (Figure 1). The site is located in upland area bordering the Little Ogeechee drainage. Site 9CH1205 contains a late eighteenth- to middle nineteenth-century domestic occupation, as well a Civil War encampment that are considered National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible components. The site also contains a limited amount of late nineteenth-century to early twentieth-century materials and a small prehistoric component. Following Phase II investigations, the site was recommended eligible for the NRHP. Phase I and II survey and evaluation of 9CH1205 was completed by Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) (Silliman and Quirk 2009). Phase I survey was conducted with shovel tests on a 30-meter interval with infill on a 15-meter spacing to identify artifact concentrations. There were 203 shovel tests excavated by Silliman and Quirk (2009:47), of which 74 (36%) were positive. These positive tests yielded 488 historic artifacts, or a density of approximately 6.6 artifacts per test. The locations of shovel tests from the first phase of fieldwork as well as Phase II test units (TUs) are shown in Figure 2. This testing revealed the greatest concentration of positive tests along the southern and eastern edges of the site. Smaller clusters of positive tests were found in the northeast corner and in the north central site area, as well as isolated positives in the central area. There were fewer numbers of 15-meter tests dug in these central areas. For the Phase II evaluation, EPEI dug 10 1x2-meter test units (TUs) plus two additional 1x1- meter TUs to further expose cultural features. EPEI conducted metal detector survey over a locations are shown on Figure 2). The TUs and the metal detector survey were focused on the southeastern portion of the site, although two TUs (numbers 8 and 9) were located in the north central and northwestern site areas. The metal detector survey primarily identified domestic and architectural artifacts, including an iron hoe and an iron padlock shackle, but also recovered a Spencer rifle shell casing indicative of a Civil War component. Silliman and Quirk (2009:73) recommended that additional survey be conducted with a metal detector cable of distinguishing iron from other metal signatures to a depth of 60 centimeters.