An Archaeological Remote-Sensing Survey and Target Assessment for a Borrow Area Offshore of Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia

The Shrimp Docks at Sunbury, Inc. is planning to improve its dock facilities on

the Medway River in Liberty County, Georgia. The proposed activities include

the installation of pilings to support 140-foot-wide floating dock facilities

extending approximately 175 feet into the river. In order to comply with Georgia

and Federal submerged cultural resource legislation and regulations, a

submerged cultural resource survey of the proposed project area was necessary.

Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc., of Washington, North Carolina [TAR] was

retained by Mr. Terry A. Lyle of The Shrimp Docks at Sunbury, Inc. and Mr.

Robert Van DeGejuchte of Half Moon Builders to conduct a survey designed to

identify and assess the significance of any underwater cultural material located

in the proposed project area. Project research consisted of a background

literature review and a remote sensing survey of the proposed area of effect.

Fieldwork activities associated with the project were conducted on 28 January

2002. Analysis of the remote sensing data identified four anomalies within the

area surveyed but outside the area of impact. Two of those anomalies produced

both magnetic and acoustic signatures. One of those anomalies, SUNB-04, was

identified as a trawl door. The other, SUNB-03, contained signature

characteristics suggestive of shipwreck remains, but was identified as modern

construction debris dumped in the river. The remaining two anomalies, SUNB-

01 and SUNB-02, contained signature characteristics suggestive of potentially

significant submerged cultural resources. As all of the anomalies lie outside the

area of the proposed dock facility no further investigation is recommended in

association with the proposed project. However, if this or other development

activities are determined to have a potential impact on the location of anomalies

SUNB-01, SUNB-02 and SUNB-03, additional investigation is recommended to

identify and assess material generating those signatures.

Additional waterfront development proposed by Half Moon Builders in the

vicinity of SUNB-03 and SUNB-04 required that further investigation be

conducted to identify and assess the material generating the two anomalies.

That investigation was carried out by TAR personnel on 15 May 2002. Divers

identified SUNB-03 as a scatter of modern debris such as planks, copper tubing,

sheet metal and concrete. At target SUNB-04, divers confirmed the material

generating the acoustic signature was a trawl door from a shrimp boat. As the

material generating the target signatures were modern, no further investigation

is recommended in conjunction with the proposed project.