A Phase I archaeological survey of 3,936 acres (1,374.4 hectares) around Thurmond Lake, McDuffie County, Georgia was conducted by Panamerican Consultants, Inc. (PCI). The investigations were conducted in conjunction with Gulf South Research Corporation (GSRC) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District. This fieldwork was designed to locate and assess the significance of cultural resources within the designated project area by means of an intensive cultural-resources survey. The information will in turn aid in management of timber harvesting and lake levels. The requested survey complies with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment), and the Archaeological and Historical Preservation Act of 1974 and agency-specific regulations such as ER 1130-2-540.
Fieldwork for this project was conducted between Apri11999 and April2000. The boundaries of potentially eligible sites were painted in April2000. The boundaries and center point of these sites were recorded using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technology at the same time the boundaries were marked.
The project area encompasses approximately 3,936 acres. The acreage is divided into six tracts, all located in McDuffie County. The tracts vary in size; the smallest comprises 51 acres and is situated south of Big Creek, and the largest contains 2,622 acres north of Hart Creek. During PCI's survey of the area, the project tract was further sub-divided into thirty-one separate survey tracts.
The Scope of Work called for an intensive (ie., 100 percent) survey augmented by the excavation of shovel tests. The two main objectives of this intensive archaeological survey were to obtain a complete inventory of all significant cultural resources present and to evaluate all identified resources under criteria of the National Register o Historic Places (NRHP). A total of 14,299 shovel test locations were documented during the investigation, including 894 positive shovel tests, 11,174 negative shovel tests, and 2,231 locations where shovel testing was not possible. An estimated volume of 141.5 cubic meters of soil was excavated and screened during the shovel test of the survey areas. Shovel tests, averaged 30 cm (11.8 in.) in diameter and ranged from 2 to 80 cm (.79to 31.5 in.) in depth. The average depth of the 894 positive shovel tests was 24.5 cm below surface (cmbs) (9.65 inbs.), whereas the average depth of 11,174 negative shovel tests was 21.35 cmbs (8.41 inbs.).
The present survey resulted in the identification and documentation of 403 cultural loci (Figures 1-11). One site (2-S-9) is recommended eligible and 24 sites (1-S-8, 2-S-1, 2-S-2, 2-S-5, 3-S- 2, 5-S-1, 6-S-1, 8-S-4, lOA-S-1, 10-S-1, 11-S-30, 12-S-6, 15-S-1, 16-S-1, 16-S-2, 16-S-6, 17-S-9, 19-S-17, 19-S-200, 22-S-10, 24-S-27, 26-S-22, 29-S-1, and 30-S-10) are recommended potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. These sites, although all slightly disturbed by some previous land use, exhibit some preservation and possibly have the potential for addressing multiple research issues. Any further land-use activities should avoid these sites. If avoidance cannot be achieved, testing programs should be implemented to determine the eligibility of the sites. The remaining 378 sites are recommended not eligible and no further archaeological work is necessary.
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