Archaeological Survey of the Chatuge Reservoir Shoreline Management Zone and 603 acres of Public Lands Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina

An investigation of approximately 80 linear miles of the Chatuge Reservoir was conducted for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TV A) by New South Associates, Inc. between November 1996 and January 1997, and in September 1998. Chatuge Reservoir is located in Clay County, North Carolina and Towns County, Georgia along the Hiwassee River Valley in the southern Blue Ridge physiographic region. New South submitted a technical and budgetary proposal for an intensive shoreline survey of developed areas and areas with a high potential for further development along the Chatuge Reservoir within TV A's shoreline management zone (SMZ). The SMZ extends from the median winter pool (MWP) located at 1,915 feet AMSL to the maximum shoreline contour (MSC) located at 1,933. The survey area consists of approximately 80 miles of shoreline, which covers approximately 1,880 acres. Additional archaeological survey of 603 acres of public lands adjacent to the reservoir was conducted in October of 1997. These lands consisted of shoreline areas as well as wooded uplands.

This study is intended to provide a detailed description of the archaeological survey and the resources found in order to allow the Georgia and North Carolina State Historic Preservation Offices to determine the eligibility of sites for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the report will assist TVA in future land-use planning.

The primary goal of the survey was to determine National Register eligibility of sites in areas which the Tennessee Valley Authority expects to be at risk for future development or other impact. Sites were identified primarily through pedestrian survey of the exposed shoreline area within the SMZ. Surface collection consisted of general collections of small or larger, sparse sites, and 3 meter dogleashes at larger, denser sites using intervals between 10 and 20 meters. In the upland areas sites were identified primarily through 30 meter interval shovel testing. In areas with ground cover, cruciform pattern shovel testing was used to examine subsurface conditions and to determine boundaries.

A total of 215 sites were identified or revisited, while three other previously identified sites were not relocated. All of these sites have been moderately to severely damaged by erosion, and as a result, 204 are recommended as not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Nine sites are recommended as potentially eligible, and two sites (9To162 and 31Cy248/248**) remain unassessed. Of the 215 sites there were 110 undiagnostic lithic scatters, nine Early Archaic, seven Middle Archaic, 20 Late Archaic, 10 Early Woodland, two Middle Woodland, nine Late Woodland, 27 Mississippian, 22 Qualla phase, and 127 Historic components.