Report On the Skull Shoals Archaeological Area, Red Lands Ranger District, Oconee National Forest

The archeological site to be reported was known to earlier survey at the University of Georgia as the “Soil Conservation mound Site”, inasmuch as the two mounds and intermediate village area were first called to the attention of the archeological department at the University of Georgia when the area was administered by the Soil Conservation group. This was back in the early 1950’s when students in archaeology made annual Fall trips to inspect the mounds and to make surface collections. Fishermen fishing at “the bend” and Skull Shoals area were wont to dig for bait in the top of the mound nearest the river and had excavated an irregular pit about two feet deep and five to six feet wide. In the process they had dug down to an earlier mound level, about two feet from the present mound summit, dislodging broken pottery and animal remains of the prehistoric occupation. At the request and recommendation of the University archaeologists the Soil Conservation administrators put up signs to prevent further vandalism or unauthorized digging but protection of the mounds was practically impossible because of the isolated location and difficulty of coverage by the ranger on duty.

From surface collections obtained as indicated by students of University of Georgia between the years 1950-1955, it is possible to make a fairly accurate cultural diagnosis of the site and to assess its scientific importance and potential for further development. A good planimetric map should be prepared of the two mounds, the intervening village area, and the nearby bend of the Oconee River which threatens to impinge on the larger Mound A in the future.