Request for Determination of Eligibility for Site 9DA69

A workshop is defined as an area where broken or unfinished vessels litter the surface, but where there is no evidence of above-ground quarry activities. Some workshops may prove to be quarry sites if further investigations indicate subsurface quarry activities. 11 [Dickens, undated]. The limits of this site were defined by the limits of the steatite outcrop, which was scattered, and by locations of unfinished soapstone bowl fragments.

The immediate area of the site is hilly topography; a large knoll known as Black Mountain. The site is in a hardwood forest area which has been undisturbed by plowing. Minor erosion is evident. At the time of Archaic habitation, the area was probably in total climax vegetation, i.e., hardwood forest. The only disrupting influence in the area is a nearby power easement for transmission lines. Removal of vegetation in this area has caused significant erosion. Due to topographic constraints, the immediate area of 9Da69 is undeveloped. However, I-285 passes through the northwestern section of Soapstone Ridge, approximately 200' from the site.

9Da69 is an undisturbed single-component site lacking any stratigraphy. The site involves no structural remains and has been classed as Late Archaic. No collection was made. The outcrop at the site exhibits some above-surface quarrying activity, i.e., some scallops and one knob. The actual survey included thorough surface inspection, including selective removal of leaf cover to expose potential bowl fragments or quarry remnants. No previous investigations of this site had occurred.

The survey in which this site was discovered was accomplished under a Georgia Department of Transportation contract. The survey area included approximately 120 square miles in Clayton, Henry and DeKalb Counties, Georgia. The survey required 20 weeks of field work. The purpose of the survey was to locate, record, and evaluate the importance of all archaeological resources that might be affected by Project I-675. Archaeological sites, discovered by field research or documentary research, were recorded descriptively, photographed, mapped, and were evaluated according to their cultural uniqueness, condition of preservation, and areal importance - including assignation of a level of significance by the principle investigator. Limitations of funding and time were experienced; total, or even systematic, removal of extensive leaf mold on these sites was not possible. The investigators did not require results of sub-surface testing for evaluation.