Arch(!eological Testing of Five Sites, (9Ce873, 9Ce894, 9Ce898, 9Ce909, 9Ce910) in Compartment B-4, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Chattahoochee County, Georgia

This report describes test excavations at five sites (9Ce894, 9Ce873, 9Ce909, 9Ce910, and 9Ce898} located in Chattahoochee County Georgia, in the B-4 compartment at Ft. Benning. These sites were tested by Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants Inc, in September and October of 1998 in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Testing was necessary in order to determine eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP} prior to proposed ground disturbance associated with plans to enlarge existing parachute drop zones at Liberty and Arkman Ranges. As a result of the testing, four of the sites (9Ce894, 9Ce873, 9Ce91 0 and 9Ce898} are recommended as eligible for the NRHP. All five sites include aboriginal components, while four of the sites (9Ce894, 9Ce909, 9Ce91 0, and 9Ce898} also include nineteenth century historic components, associated with the community of Bald Hill. Bald Hill was one of the principle cross road communities of Muscogee and later Chattahoochee County during early and mid-nineteenth century. While no standing structures remain, the tested sites include archaeological deposits with chimney falls, brick piers, wells, and sheet midden deposits, which span the period from frontier settlement through emancipation and reconstruction. As a result of its developmental history, sites representing the Bald Hill community retain a nearly pure nineteenth century character, thus providing and excellent laboratory for the study of rural nineteenth century lifeways in west Georgia. Aboriginal components at the five tested sites are not particularly spectacular or dense in terms of their artifact or feature content, however testing demonstrated that the deposits are deeply stratified and include evidence for periodic episodes of seasonal occupation and resource extraction spanning the Archaic through the Historic periods. Significant stratified Late Archaic/Gulf Formational and Middle Woodland components are present at 9Ce873, while site 9Ce894 includes significant stratified Late Archaic/Gulf Formational and Woodland components. Each of the tested sites is associated with one or more small seeps or springs which appear to flow reliably even in times of drought. These springs were no doubt an important factor in attracting historic and prehistoric occupation in the B-4 area. Limited shovel testing in the wetland areas immediately surrounding these springs suggests that they may also contain significant cultural materials.