Final Report: Phase I Archaeological Testing of the Interpretive Center and Ancillary Facilities at Florence Marina State Park

From June 13 through June 17, 1988; Dan Simpkins and David Davis of the Office of the State Archaeologist conducted archaeological testing in the project area for a proposed Interpretive Center along with its associated parking lot and access road and two picnic shelters. As a result of the work reported hereof further archaeological work was considered appropriate prior to construction. This additional work has already been reported (Ledbetter and Braley 1989). That report cited Simpkins (1988b), even though the cited report has not been completed until this time. This report will therefore fill a gap in the records pertaining to the excavations associated with the Interpretive Center construction. The entire area in which archaeological testing was conducted was within the boundary of an archaeological site designated as WGC1638 (subsequently designated 9Sw124). The testing consisted of the excavation of ten three-foot square pits (See Map 1). Three of the pits were located within the proposed boundary of the Interpretive Center, five pits were located along the center line of the access road or within the parking area, and one test pit was placed in each of two proposed picnic shelters. Eight of the test pits encountered historic period midden below a thin layer of sod. Beneath the historic period midden was a level of yellow tan sand incorporating a relatively pure component of plain and brushed Indian ceramics that were historic Creek in origin. The Indian occupation was thought to represent a dispersed town recorded on historic maps as Sawokliutchi. Two of the test pits encountered brick features: one possibly a building foundation, and the second a pile of rubble, ash, and historic artifacts. The remains in these two test pits were cleaned, photographed, and drawn. The excavation did not extend deeper than the brick remains. The cultural deposits reached a depth of at-least 1 ½ feet in all areas tested to full depth. in two of the test pits, cultural deposits extended to a depth of 2 ½ feet. The historic materials were derived from the historic town of Florence which was occupied from 1836 to an unknown date in the twentieth century, probably circa 1930. The majority of historic materials recovered date from the 1880's to the 1930's. A well-worn United States nickel recovered from a test Pit near the southeast corner of the proposed Interpretive Center bears a date of 1893. No subsurface excavated features either historic or prehistoric, were encountered. There were only two possible post molds observed during the archaeological testing. The location of one dug well has been reported within the town boundary but outside the area of the Interpretive Center and picnic shelters. There have been statements that a burial mound, subsurface portions of which may still exist, was located in the field immediately south of the site of the Interpretive Center. Given that the Interpretive Center, its parking area, and its driveway, very likely cover all or the major part of an aboriginal Creek town of the historic period, the probability of burials within this development area was considered to be fairly high. There was no information derived through the testing concerning the possibility of subsurface excavated features such as storage pits. Based upon the result of the reported testing, WG1639 was recommended as eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance.