Archaeological Data Recovery and Mitigation at the Genesis Point Site (9BN906) Bryan County, Georgia

Between April and July, 2009, Environmental Services Inc. (ESI) completed archaeological data recovery and mitigation at the Genesis Point Site (9BN906) located in Bryan County, Georgia. Mitigation tasks completed at the Genesis Point Site included formal excavations in the form of thirty 1 by 1 meter test units, monitoring of heavy equipment during site stripping, excavation of all features, washing and laboratory analysis of all artifacts, analysis and interpretation of all data, and completion of this report. Three loci were investigated based on findings from the Phase I and Phase II investigations. Those studies determined the presence of several surface brick scatters and artifacts concentrated mostly in the first Stratum of Locus 1; Locus 2 contained several brick scatters and push piles; and Locus 3 contained four light density brick and shell scatters as well as push piles. Phase III fieldwork resulted in the generation of cultural data spanning the Late 18th through 20th century.

The results of hand excavation and mechanical stripping during Phase III investigations displayed heavy disturbance to the plowzone from 20th Century silviculture. Features that were still intact below the disturbed soils suggest that 9BN906 was an 18th to 19th Century habitation. Evidence of wooden structures was present in the northern and southern portions of the site, while few post and brick features remained in the central portion. This suggests either the absence of domestic activities in this area or that those features were destroyed by 20th Century plowing. An indeterminate number of structures existed at 9BN906, with few pit, cooking and midden features. The nature of the habitation, extent of occupation, and population are therefore tentative.