Archaeological Data Recovery at 9Me348 Muscogee Technology Park Columbus, Georgia

In September and October of 2001, Southern Research conducted data recovery at Site 9ME348 for the City of Columbus, Georgia under contract with Jordan, Jones, and Goulding, Inc. located on the Midland 7.5 minute USGS topographic quadrangle, the site is situated on a ridge end which terminates on the east side of Bull Creek (Figure 1). Originally located on Fort Benning property, Site 9ME348 is part of a land tract which was swapped with the City of Columbus. The City of Columbus has proposed to develop this area as am industrial park under the title Muscogee Technology Park.

Site 9ME348 was originally identified in 1991 by Southeastern Archeological Services (Benson and Gresham 1994). The survey identified a Historic Creek component as a possible Late Woodland/Early Mississippian component. They recommended the site as potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) based on its potential to contribute significant data concerning these periods (Benson and Gresham 1994). The site was tested in 1995 by Brockington and Associates (Gardner et al. 1995). In addition to recovering significant Historic Creek remains, a Middle Woodland component was believed to be present based on the recovery of curvilinear complicated stamped and simple stamped ceramics, and a stemmed PPK indicated a Late Archaic component. Intact cultural deposits, including postholes and a probable midden, indicated the possible presence of a Historic Creek house. Based on the site’s potential to yield valuable data about Historic Creek occupation, it was recommended eligible for the NRHP at the local level of significance under Criterion D (Gardner et al. 1995).

The Georgia State Historic Preservation Division (HPD), the US Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) concurred with the NRHP recommendations. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Fort Benning, the HPD, and ACHP (with concurrence by the City of Columbus and consulting Native American tribes), was composed and agreed upon. The MOA called for avoidance of the site or mitigation of adverse impacts prior to land development. Because the site area could not be avoided by future proposed land development, data recovery was the chosen option. A data recovery plan developed by Brockington and Associates, Inc., with minor revisions suggested by Southern Research, was used by Columbus’ engineering consultant, Jordan, Jones, and Goulding, Inc., as a scope of work. The revised plan called for the excavation of approximately 100 shovel tests at 10 meter intervals and fifteen 2 x 2 meter unit tests, as well as the use of a backhoe stripping to search for cultural features.