Phase II Archaeological Testing of 9SP161, Spalding County, Georgia

During August and September 2009, Edwards-Pitman Environmental Inc. (EPEI) conducted Phase II archaeological testing at 9SP161, for the proposed State Route (SR) 92 Bridge Replacement over the Flint River in Spalding County, Georgia. The site was initially identified and recommended potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D (information potential) during URS Corporation's Phase I survey for the bridge replacement (URS 2007).

Limited Phase II testing consisting of additional shovel testing and the excavation of four 1-x-1 meter (m) test units was conducted at 9SP161 in December 2007 and February 2008 by URS Corporation (URS 2009). This investigation identified additional Early Archaic (Palmer), Middle Archaic (Morrow Mountain), and Early Woodland (Dunlap) components, in addition to the Middle and Late Woodland components identified during the initial survey. The results of this investigation were inconclusive, and further testing of the site was recommended.

EPEI's investigations focused on the excavation of four 2-x-2 m test units and were augmented by geophysical investigations conducted by Keith Seramur, geomorphologist.

Cultural features and diagnostic materials from stratified deposits were recovered in three of the four test units. Diagnostic artifacts were found representing the Early, Middle, and Late Archaic, and the Early and Middle Woodland periods. Nine cultural features were identified during test unit excavation. Six of these features were wholly or partially excavated. Three features in Test Unit 1 were not excavated due to inundation. One temporally diagnostic artifact, an Early Archaic Kirk Comer Notched PP/K was recovered from Feature 5 in Test Unit 3.

In summary, based on the results of the Phase II testing project, EPEI recommends that 9SP161 is eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. The portion of the site within the APE exhibits excellent context for this environmental zone and has yielded several diagnostic artifacts and cultural features. In particular, the likely presence of stratified Early, Middle and potentially Late Archaic components has the ability to inform research questions concerning the prehistoric occupation of this area. No similar sites have been investigated in Spalding County, and such work is rare in the region. These components appear to be at a vertical depth beyond the reach of historic plowing and road construction, and therefore offer a unique opportunity for investigation. Additional archaeological work within the currently defined APE is recommended to mitigate adverse effects to the site should the project continue as designed.