A Cultural Resource Assessment of the Entrekin Tract, Lake Blackshear, Sumter County, Georgia

Field investigations for a cultural resource assessment of a six acre island located on Lake Blackshear were conducted on August 8, 9, and 12, 1991 by Mr. Don Gordy and Mr. Lloyd Cornwell. Frank T. Schnell served as Principle Investigator. This tract is located immediately adjacent to the western shore of Lake Blackshear in Sumter County, Georgia. UTM coordinates for the approximate center of the island are Zone 17S E220400 N3545700. The island was originally part of a low point overlooking the Flint River bottom lands prior to the construction of Lake Blackshear in the early 1930's This reservoir was constructed without extensive clearing and without cultural resource assessment. In 1973 the reservoir was lowered eleven feet to facilitate stump clearing. Then Governor Jimmy Carter provided funds to the Columbus Museum for an archaeological survey of the basin. A total of 219 archaeological sites were discovered during that survey, including three on the lake bottom directly adjacent to the Entrekin property. A series of nine shovel tests were conducted on the island in order to determine whether cultural resources were present, and if so, if there was sufficient integrity to the deposits to warrant further investigation. These 30 x 30 cm. tests were conducted in intervals of 30 meters along the northwestern and northeastern (high) sides of this triangular island. All soil from these tests was sifted through a 1/411 (.635 cm) mesh. Although specimens were recovered from each of the tests conducted, no stratigraphic depth was indicated in any of the tests. A study of early maps made prior to the construction of Lake Blackshear yielded an acquisition map drawn in January of 1931 which shows a "long slide" or "long slope" between the location studied and the Flint River. Interpreting the map label in either way suggests erosion from the site down to the lower river terrace. It is therefore concluded that although prehistoric cultural resources are present, they have been damaged to the extent that they cannot yield information beyond the extent of the data recovered in this investigation. It is the judgement of the Principal Investigator that the site does not qualify for the National Register of Historic Places and no further mitigation is necessary. Questions concerning certain aspects of the draft report have been answered within the text of this final report.