2017 Phase I Archaeological Investigations at the Proposed Half Moon Walking Trail Project, City of Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia

On June 27, 2017, Southeastern Horizons, Inc. (SEH) conducted an intensive Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Half Moon Walking Trail Project in the City of Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia. The purpose was to evaluate an approximately 3.2 acres (ac) [1.3 hectares (ha)] portion of an overall area of9.3 ac (3.8 ha) Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the presence of cultural resources. The survey was executed under the mandates of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulation 36 CFR Part 800 (Protection of Historic Properties), as amended. The project will be funded by a FHWA, RTP grant.

After a preliminary inspection of the entire 9.3 ac (3.8 ha) project area on June 1, 2017, SEH consulted with the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (GAHPD) about the project area conditions. As a result, the overall area subject to the Phase I archaeological survey, was reduced to 3.2 ac (1.3 ha). This was because approximately 5.9 ac (2.4 ha) was recently filled-over with approximately 2-3 feet (ft) [0.6 meters (m)] of soil and a retention pond composed the remaining 0.2 ac (0.1 ha). An agreement was reached with the GAHPD to survey only the non-filled portion of the tract.

During a literature and records search it was discovered that three archaeological sites were previously recorded within a one kilometer (km) [0.62 mile (mi)] radius of the property tract. A portion of one, the Abbeville Trash Dump Site (9\VIIS), was included in the proposed project APE in its northeast section. The original site record, completed in the mid-1970s, indicates that an inactive trash dump was present at that time. A City of Abbeville official also corroborated that a trash dump had recently been cleared from the APE before the soil over-fill. Considerable disturbance of the historic "trash dump" was imparted during the clearing process.

On June 27, 2017 SEH personnel executed a Phase I survey of the 3.2 ac ( 1.3 ha) non-filled portion of the APE. A total of I 0 shovel tests were dug at 30 meters (m) grid intervals to evaluate the historic resources and search for prehistoric artifacts below the modern component. All of the tests were positive with historic materials and five were positive with prehistoric artifacts. No evidence for intact historic features or structures was found.

Since the historic component was extensively disturbed and no evidence was found of any features or architectural remnants and no definitive evidence for a homestead was found in the records search, that component is recommended as ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Only 16 recognizable prehistoric artifacts were recovered, 14 of these were non-diagnostic chert flakes and two (which mended into one) was undecorated pottery. Because of the very low density of prehistoric resources and the lack of diagnostics, the prehistoric component(s) is likewise recommended as ineligible for nomination to the NRHP.