2016 Phase I AND II Archaeological Investigations at the Propsed Lee County Solar Array Facility, Lee County, Georgia

Abstract 9738.

                During the month of September 2016, Southeastern Horizons, Inc. (SEH) conducted an intensive Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Lee County Solar Array (LCSA) project for Lee County, Georgia, through the firm of Hofstadter and Associates, Inc., of Macon, Georgia. Its purpose was to evaluate an approximately three acre tract for the presence of cultural resources where a proposed solar power generating facility is to be constructed. The survey was executed under the mandates of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulation 36 CFR Part 800 (Protection of Historic Properties), as amended. The project will be funded by a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The CWSRF program is a federally-funded loan for wastewater projects.

During preliminary research it was discovered that four archaeological sites were previously recorded within a one kilometer (0.62 mile) radius of the property tract. The closest of these, 9LE56 and 9LE57 were discovered during a 1999 power transmission line survey that crosses the southern end of the tract. The power line corridor was excluded from the Area of Potential Effect (APE) since it had already been assessed for cultural resources. The remaining portion of the tract within the APE was subjected to a shovel testing scheme based on a 30-meter interval grid. Positive tests were surrounded by closer-ordered tests to delineate the extent of the archaeological deposits. Ultimately, a total of 41 shovel tests were dug during the Phase I operation to evaluate the APE.

An isolated positive test containing a single bifacial overface thinning flake was found in the extreme northern end of the APE. However, because of the APE's narrow shape at that location, delineation could only be southward. Two tests to the south were negative. Numerous positive tests were encountered in the western and southern portion of the APE. They were parallel and east of an escarpment along the floodplain of a small, unnamed, drainage. Ultimately, the pattern of the positive shovel tests and their contained artifacts revealed the presence of a new site. While low quantities of chert flakes were found in most tests, two yielded 18 and 72, respectively. These were relatively close together in the southwest portion of the APE and suggested that an aerially restricted, very dense, cultural deposit exists in that area. No evidence was found that the cultural deposits were disturbed. The Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) assigned the code 9LE 164 to the site.

Two isolated shovel tests also yielded one historic artifact each. However, both were spatially distant from each other and no surrounding shovel tests were positive for other historic artifacts. Another single artifact was found in the extreme southern end of the APE, south of the power line corridor. That entire area was highly disturbed as a result of ditching and filling. Therefore, no further tests were warranted in that area. All of these artifacts are considered isolated finds. By definition, isolated finds are not sites and therefore are not eligible nomination to the NRHP.

An immediate follow up Phase II Site Evaluation project was conducted at 9LE164. It involved additional shovel testing (14) to isolate the densest portion of the site and the excavation of a single one meter by two meter elevation-controlled excavation block to more properly evaluate the site's eligibility for nomination to the NRHP. Only four diagnostics (Swift Creek Complicated Stamped pottery sherds) were recovered from the block along with 1137 other non-diagnostic artifacts. No evidence was observed to interpret the deposits as being disturbed. A boundary of the densest portion of 9LE 164 was marked for avoidance. The distribution and quantity of artifacts west of that boundary is low and is not likely to yield important research information. Construction in that area will not have an adverse effect on the site. SEH recommends 9LE164 as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and that construction be restricted to the east of the marked high density boundary.