Phase I Archaeological Remote Sensing Survey of the Proposed Southern Natural Gas (SNG) Elba Island Turning Basin in the Savannah River, Chatham County Georgia, and Including Portions of the Souther Carolina Bankline in Jasper County, South Carolina

This report presents the results of the Phase I archeological survey for the Sou them Natural Gas Elba Island Turning Basin Project, in the Savannah River, and along adjacent portions of the South Carolina bank line of the Savannah River in Jasper County, South Carolina. These investigations were conducted from January 27 - February 11 , 2001 , by R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. (RCGA), on behalf of Southern Natural Gas (SNG), in support of the proposed dredging of a ship turning basin and associated bank line alterations along the Savannah River. This study was undertaken pursuant to permitting requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savarmah District, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; the proposed dredging of material at this location will require permits from the Savannah District. All aspects of these investigations were completed in accordance with the Scope-of-Work, which was developed in consultation with Ms. Judy Wood at the Savannah District, and with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (Federal Register 48, No 190, 1983).

The archeological survey had both terrestrial and riverine components. The survey of the riverine component consisted of remote sensing study of one survey block measuring approximately 1,500 x 7,400 ft (457.21 x 2,255.55 m), or 255 acres, and included 84 adjacent tracklines. A total of 84 linear miles (1 0.19 acres) of river bottom were surveyed. The terrestrial bank line survey covered an additional 7,400 x 150-300 ft (approximately 51 acres) of the South Carolina bank line. The latter survey employed magnetometry to identify historic remains in deep fill deposits.

The objectives of this study were to identify targets that might represent significant submerged cultural resources and related items within the project area, and to provide the Savannah District with management reconunendations for such resources. These objectives were met applying a research design that combined background archival investigations and riverine and tenestrial archeological remote sensing surveys.

Background research and archival investigations indicated a moderate potential for encountering submerged and historic cultural resources within the project area. A review of Georgia and South Carolina archeological site files and relevant research reports documented two sites within the survey area (38JA205 and 38JA238). These were a nineteenth century Savannah River bateau and an isolated iron anchor, respectively. The bateau was recorded by Watts (1995); both sites subsequently were destroyed (Wood, personal communication 2001) by severe vessel wakes in the Elba Island Maritime Survey Area. No trace of the sites was detected during the course of fieldwork . The marine remote sensing survey registered a total of 318 individual magnetic and I 00 acoustic anomalie~. Of these anomalies, 161 magnetic anomalies and 58 acoustic anomalies comprised 42 clusters, or targets. All of the acoustic anomalies appear to represent modern fenous debris. Rather, these anomalies comprise fenous debris, such as old wine tow cable, dockage with iron fasteners, pipes, building debris, and automobile parts deposited and tumbled along the river bank. In general, anomalies recorded during marine remote sensing of the river at high tide also were observed on the tidal flats at lower water. These anomalies do not represent significant archeological resources. Of the 42 magnetic/acoustic target groups, none of them represent structures that would constitute shipwrecks or other significant cultural resources.

Thi11y magnetic anomalies and four features were recorded during the tenestrial phase of survey. All of these anomalies are modern fenous debris associated with vessel traffic and bank line debris; the four features were identified on the surface, and they represent relict structures associated with river modification, specifically the remains of Gillmore Design training walls and Carter Design wing dams constructed by the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the 1880s-1890s. None of the riverine or terrestrial anomalies represent significant cultural resources; none of the four features identified along the bank line, of which Features 1 and 2 comprise sites 38JA280 and 38JA281 and Features 3 and 4 comprise sites 38JA282 and 38JA283, possess the qualities of significance as defined by the National Register of Historic Places criteria for evaluation (36 CFR 60.4 [a-d]). These sites were evaluated within their appropriate historic and thematic contexts under Criteria a-d, and found not to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, they lack integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, or association, due to their prior destruction by dredging and channel widening activities, as well due to wave and tidal action. Consequently, no additional archeological studies are recommended or warranted within the SNG Elba Island Turning Basin Project area.