Phased Demolition/Replacement of 4-H Rock Eagle Cabins Putnam County, Georgia GP-051011-002

On July 19, 2016 I completed Phase I archeological survey of two proposed construction areas around cabins in the Rock Eagle 4-H center in northern Putnam County. Scott Messer of the University of Georgia's Office of the Architect has informed you of this project, which entails a long-term, phased demolition and rebuilding of most of the 54 cabins. About ten years ago your office recommended reconnaissance-level archeological survey prior to construction, and we are carrying out the survey, but at an intensive level. I am going out of town for two weeks and want to submit this email (with attachments) before I leave to serve as an end-of-fieldwork report of our findings, in hope that you can issue a notice to proceed to the University of Georgia. Prior to the fieldwork, we examined old maps and aerial photographs (1919 through 1955) that showed no houses or structures preceded the 4-H center cabins, which were built in 1952-1953. The Georgia Archaeological Site File shows a large number of sites within 1 mile ofthe project area, and many are so densely arrayed that it is difficult to sort them out. Three sites are recorded on the ridge that contains the 4-H center (see attached enlarged USGS map; sites marked in blue), and all were observed and recorded during and/or shortly after construction of the cabins, probably by Vincenzo Petrullo, the archeologist working with Arthur Kelly at the Rock Eagle itself, and surrounding sites. The three sites forms have almost no information, but reference Petrullo's 1954 report on his survey and have attached a hand-written card with descriptive infmmation. We assume the cards were completed by Petrullo or one of his assistants. Site 9PM72 is called the Rock Eagle Ball Park site and is said to have been on a ridge, and in 1954 was "reported to have been rich in pottery and stone artifacts." Petrullo's report says "working a step ahead of a bulldozer, a number of potsherds were recovered from the top of the ridge." He also says that artifacts were found on the slope, but that area has been landscaped and many buildings constructed on it. The card notes that 554 sherds were surface collected, most of the identifiable ones being Lamar. The site form, which probably was prepared by GASF staff much later, notes that "site mapped but location uncertain." The only place a ball park could have been in 1953 is on the open ridge crest wi~ the loop that was built in 1952, and thus we believe site 9PM72 was actually centered on the ridge crest, but also extended down the slope to the eas~ where it is shown on GASF maps. Apparently the ridge crest was somewhat leveled during the 1950s construction. Site 9PM75 is described as a lithic scatter along the lake shore in front of the 4-H cottages. Petrullo notes that "the site is largely lost due to the building of both the lake and the cottages." Its location is also uncertain, but probably is about where it is depicted on the GASF map (see attached enlarged USGS topo map). Site 9PM83 is not included in Petrullo's written report, but there is a card for it. The card notes that in an eroded spot on the prison yard and in connection with park construction, 263 potsherds were collected, 57 with designs. We know that the current administration building was the building that housed the prisoners (i.e., the "prison") who built the center in the early 1950s. Thus, we believe the location shown on GASF maps for site 9PM83 is probably con·ect. In accordance with the plan maps that Scott emailed you on July 18, I excavated 25 shovel tests around cabins 43 - 48 and the road intersection leading to them, which together constitute one of the two areas of potential effect. There was very little exposed ground surface here, so survey relied on shovel testing. One line oftests was about 10m in front (southeast) ofthe cabins, one line was in line with the cabins (in between them) and a third line was about 15m behind (northwest) the cabins. As visual inspection had indicated, these shovel tests encountered mostly eroded and disturbed soil strata. Besides the grading around each of the six cabins and the road in front of them, many storm water, sewer and water lines have been excavated around the cabins. Many shovel tests had a very thin top soil or no top soil at all. Several had top layers of clay fill,ranging from 10 to 32 em. Only two or three shovel tests appeared relatively undisturbed, with a thin reddish-brown clay loam plowzone over red clay subsoil. One shovel test (ST 12, see attached map of shovel tests) contained an artifact, this being a small, eroded sherd. While it is too eroded to tell if it was decorated or plain, its grit temper and thinness suggests it is Lamar pottery. As an isolated artifact, and one with dubious integrity, this is not considered an archeological site. At the other project area, dealing with parking improvements and two sidewalks at cabins 1-6, there was a great deal of ground surface exposure and little need for shovel testing. This area (see attached map) was on a moderately steep slope and had seen much grading for the cabins and existing roads and sidewalks. The proposed southeastern sidewalk, where we proposed excavating five shovel tests, was almost entirely eroded to bare subsoil, with excellent surface collecting conditions. No artifacts were observed. One shovel test was excavated where there was little surface exposure, and it was negative. The other, shorter, sidewalk, traverses a steep ridge slope at an angle, and this had from 25% to 100% ground surface exposure. No artifacts were observed and no shovel tests were excavated. The outlined construction area along the road and existing parking spaces is almost entirely within previously graded areas. The edge of construction closest to the lake is generally 8 to 15 m from the lakeshore, and this edge was closely inspected for artifacts and to discern undisturbed areas. None were observed. In summation, we conducted intensive Phase I archeological survey of the two proposed construction zones and found no sites in either area. We recommend giving clearance for the project to proceed.