Completion of Fieldwork Report: Archeological Data Recovery at 9PU37 and 9PU57, Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area, Pulaski County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (hereafter DNR), wishes to construct a ca. 100 acre fishing lake on the Pulaski-Bleckley County line. This undertaking requires a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which as a condition of the permit, requires compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f). To comply with Section 106, the DNR contracted to have a Phase I archeological survey conducted for the project area and a subsequent Phase II testing of five of the 21 discovered sites. The results of these studies were reviewed by the USACE and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and it was determined that the proposed project would have an adverse effect on four sites determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, 9PU37, 9PU57, 9PU69 and 9PU71 (Figure 1). These are all multicomponent, prehistoric sites containing subsurface distributions of pottery and stone artifacts and possibly features. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed in January of2003 by the USACE, the DNR and the SHPO, which provides for the mitigation of adverse effects at the four sites by means of data recovery excavations. The excavations are to follow an approved research design. A revised research design (submitted January 22, 2003) was accepted by the USACE pending certain revisions and recommendations spelled out in their letter to DNR, dated January 24, 2003. A final revised research design, dated January 28, 2003 was submitted. It and the MOA form the theoretical and methodological basis of the excavations undertaken at the sites. The MOA requires a 'completion of fieldwork report,' approval of which by the USACOE is required before any earth disturbing activity can take place.

Generally, the data recovery at each site consists of excavating a number of 2 x 2 m excavation units to be followed by machine-aided hand excavation and machine stripping in locations where the hand-excavated units suggest features to exist. Excavation is to take place in the portion of each site subject to project-related disturbance. A few units will be excavated in 5 em levels; the rest in standard 10 em levels. Soil samples independent of and associated with potentially datable sherds will be gathered. Features will be fully recorded and excavated. In addition, geomorphological investigations (mainly trenching monitored by a geomorphologist) are to take place on 9PU57.

As described in this report, the research design was carried out as planned for sites 9PU37 and 9PU57, the two sites that are most critical to the timely progress of the project. Three excavation units were begun on sites 9PU69 and 9PU71, but five of the six units filled with water (due to heavy winter rains and resulting high water table) before sterile levels could be reached. We intend to wait about a month and then begin monitoring the water table situation at these two sites, with the intent of completing the excavations as soon as the water table drops sufficiently to allow complete excavation of the units. Thus, this report concerns only the excavations at 9PU37 and 9PU57. As will be described, the use of a smooth-bucket backhoe proved very useful, particularly at 9PU57, where a great deal more area in the direct impact zone was opened up than was proposed. Conversely, the number of excavation units and the amount of area exposed on 9PU37 was less than proposed due to greater site disturbance than originally perceived and lack of research potential.

Two unanticipated factors slightly altered the data recovery at 9PU57, the largest of the sites, and the one located at the dam site. The first was the discovery of a human (Native American) burial in Excavation Unit 10 on February 11, and then a second burial (also Native American) in Excavation Unit 11 found on February 12. These were confirmed to be human and almost certainly Native American by the project osteologist, Gordon Martin, on February 12, 2003. Per the MOA, the USACE and SHPO were immediately notified. The result of discussions between these agencies was that the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns was to be consulted. A conference call with the Chairman of the Council (Nealie McCormick) held on February 25, 2003 resulted in the request by the Chairman to begin machine-aided stripping (with a smooth-bucket backhoe) in the area of direct impact (the proposed spillway) south and west from the known burial to determine if other burials exist. No burials would be excavated until the full Council could discuss the project at their March 12, 2003 meeting. McCormick suggested that the core area of the site, where burials are likely to occur, be kept as a preserved safe area. The Council will decide whether the one burial within the spillway should be moved away from the construction zone and whether the two burials should be investigated further to locate associated artifacts that might date the remains. The further stripping (about 3 70 m2) encountered no additional burials. The result of the discovery of the burials was a larger-than-planned area of stripping, which led to the discovery and recording of a larger than- anticipated number of features.

The second unanticipated factor was that the site was found to extend further north than had been previously determined, into an area that is to be the major borrow pit for dam construction. This area was not surveyed early on because another borrow area (the proposed spillway) was to be used. The area north of the former site boundary was investigated with a 20 m grid of shovel tests and site limits were firmly established.

Mitigative data recovery began simultaneously on sites 9PU37 and 9PU57 on January 27, 2003 and, pending acceptance of this report, have ended. A total of 260 person-days were spent on the sites, exclusive of the backhoe operator and geomorphologist. A backhoe and operator were made available to the project for the duration. Geomorphologist David Leigh was on site 9PU57 for four days and visited the other three sites for another day. Principal Investigator Rob Benson was on site for all but two days, at which time Tom Gresham directed the project.