An Overview of Soapstone Ridge and the McGarity-Etheridge Site (9DA17) DeKalb County, Georgia

Soapstone Ridge, located in southwest DeKalb County, north Clayton County, and southeast Fulton County, covers approximately 16 square miles (Figure 1). This geological formation is the location of the most extensive group of Native American soapstone quarry and workshop sites in the Southeast (Dickens and Carnes 1983). Soapstone (also called steatite) was used extensively by Native Americans, primarily during the Late Archaic period (ca. 3,000- 1,000 BC) to construct large stone bowls, pipes, and ornaments.

Soapstone Ridge is roughly oval in shape and encompasses the region where a geologic metapyroxene formation has pronounced exposure above the ground surface (Pickering 1975). This exposure is the largest intrusion of mafic-ultramafic rock in the Georgia Piedmont. The term soapstone (and also steatite) is a generic term used to describe rocks and boulders characteristic of this formation. Rocks from these geologic formations that are commonly called "soapstone” consists of various amounts of talc, chlorite, amphibolite, pyroxene, mica, calcite, dolomite, as well as other minerals.

Both Dickens and Barber (1976) and Dickens and Carnes (1983) noted that population growth in DeKalb and adjacent counties has increased dramatically since the 1950s, and residential development has been encroaching on this area of interest more and more with passing time. Despite increasing development in the region, studies of soils, hydrology, botany, zoology, and land use patterns indicate that the area maintains considerable environmental and cultural integrity (DeKalb County Planning Commission 1976).

Recent residential development has progressed as anticipated. Broad River Development Corporation, owned by Dr. Roy Talley, purchased approximately 88 acres for planned development in 1994. Development of this property required a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) permit because of projected wetland impacts. Unfortunately, the fact that a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) property was located within the development area was not noted until significant construction had occurred. The result was that the McGarity-Etheridge site (9DA17), noted as a major site within the Soapstone Ridge region, has been severely impacted by construction; over half the site has been destroyed.

This brief report provides background and context information concerning the McGarity-Etheridge site. Its current condition is described, and general recommendations are presented for further consideration of the site.