Research Design and Data Recovery Plan Archeological Site 9CK1073 Hickory Log Creek Reservoir, Cherokee County, Georgia

Site 9CK1 073 is a prehistoric site consisting of a quartz and chert lithic scatter. The site is located on the floodplain between the base of a ridge slope and a branch of Hickory Log Creek (Figures 1 and 2). Hickory Log Creek is located approximately 45 meters (m) south of the site. The site dimensions are 45 by 30m with a northeast-southwest orientation. The site has been used as a goat pasture in recent years (Figure 3), and has probably been cultivated.

Nine shovel tests were excavated at Site 9CK1073 during the survey, five of which were positive. Shovel tests revealed an average profile of 0-30 centimeters (cm) reddish-brown silty loam and 30-60 cm reddish brown silty clay loam over gray and brown mottled silty clay. A possible feature (rock cluster) was located at 55 cm below surface (cmbs) in shovel test PG-3 at the west end of the site. Excavation of the shovel test was terminated when this feature was encountered. Artifacts were recovered from depths of up to 60 cmbs. Recovered artifacts (n=21) consist of: lithic reduction materials [quartz flake fragments (n=9), quartz reduction flakes (n=4) and one RV chert thinning flake]; biface/core manufacturing materials [one quartz hammers tone fragment]; and quartz fire-cracked rock (n=9). Cultural affiliation could not be determined due to the absence of temporally diagnostic artifacts.

Site 9CK1073 was considered to have the potential for intact cultural deposits. This was based on the fact that a possible feature containing quartz fire-cracked rock was identified in a shovel test at 55 cmbs, and because artifacts were recovered from deposits extending to 60 cmbs. Site 9CK 1073 was viewed as having the potential for producing significant archeological data and was considered potentially eligible for the NRHP. Phase II testing was conducted so that clear a NRHP eligibility recommendation could be made for Site 9CK1073.