Archaeological Assessment of the East Bank of the Chattahoochee River Between Channel Mile 105.3 and 107 and Immediate Vicinity Stewart County, Georgia

On July 17, 18, and 19, representatives of the Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts, Inc., in fulfillment of an agreement with the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, conducted a cultural resource appraisal within the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, Stewart County, Georgia.

                The proposed modification of the east bank of the Chattahoochee River between channel mile 105.3 and 106.5 by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service is for the purpose of erosion control and calls for the river bank to be sloped with a bulldozer and for rip rap to be placed along the sloped surface. According to proposal data provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service and Mr. Gus Seville of the Wildlife Service (personal communication), the project is rather vaguely defined as establishing an appropriate slope on the present bank of the lake (river) and then to mechanically drop rip rap on that slope. According to Mr. Seville, the majority of the work involved in establishing the slope will be the breaking down of the presently standing banks. In most cases, according to Mr. Seville, this will involve disturbance back from the existing bank for a distance of three to four meters.

                The entire project area has been examined on foot, and limited subsurface testing within the area has been conducted to determine the likelihood that significant archaeological or historical cultural resources might be impacted. In addition, previously recorded archeological resources in the immediate vicinity of the project area have been relocated and examined in order to reassess their apparent boundaries with respect to the project. A documentary search has also been completed to assist in this assessment.