From May 18 through June 5, 2015, TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama performed an
investigation at Site 9ME1001 due to a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of
1979. Located in the Sand Hill Cantonment area at Fort Benning, Site 9ME1001 was impacted by military
training exercises conducted by Echo Company of the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, as evidenced by a sign
left behind on the site. The project included the re-excavation and examination of 13 trenches and 23 pits,
as well as the fill-dirt from 1,384 sandbags at the site. A large amount of cultural material was recovered, although most of it was from disturbed contexts so any stratigraphic integrity is unknown. The diagnostic material recovered dates from the Middle to Terminal Archaic period, throughout the Woodland period, and during the Historic Southeastern Creek Indian period. Almost 70 percent of this material was composed of non-diagnostic lithic debitage. Small amounts of historic/modern material was found and is thought to be incidental and probably related to military training activities. Larger amounts of modern military trash was noted and discarded in the field. Two possible cultural features were observed, but were not conclusive. Following the investigation, all trenches and pits were filled as completely as possible with the available soil on the site. New warning signs were placed around the perimeter of the site indicating that digging in this area is prohibited.
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