An Intensive Archaeological Assessment Survey and Limited Site Excavation at Sites 9CH1152 and 9CH1153 at the Wall Tract, Chatham County

In August and September 2006, Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI) performed an intensive cultural resource assessment survey and conducted limited site testing at the Wall development tract in Chatham County, Georgia, on behalf of DP Partners of Harrisburg, PA; the property is slated for light industrial development. Investigations were initiated in anticipation of federal permitting under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and subsequent amendments. The goal of the survey was to locate, identify, delineate, and evaluate all historic properties within the property and those within the Area of Potential Effect (APE), including prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, as well as historic structures. The cultural resource assessment survey included limited archival research and a pedestrian inspection combined with systematic shovel testing at 30 meter intervals. Delineation shovel tests were dug at 10 and 15-meter intervals.

As a result of the ESI survey, four archaeological sites (9CH1152- 9CH1155) were recorded and three historic isolated finds were documented. Two of the sites (9CH1152 and 9CH1153) contained areas of moderate artifact density and warranted limited excavation at the Phase II level, in order to evaluate their National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility status. There are no historic structures on the tract that will be affected by the development; however, there is a small cluster adjacent to the northeast boundary that are associated with an early-mid 20th century agricultural occupation, and the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal (9CH688) makes up the southern boundary of the tract. Based on the survey results and the Phase II evaluative testing results, it was determined that sites 9CH1152 and 9CH1153 contained limited artifact density, and lacked cultural features and clear occupational strata. As such, none of the four sites (9CH1152 - 9CH155) or three isolated finds encountered exhibited characteristics that would make them eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. Furthermore, the historic structures located within the APE did not meet criteria that would make them NRHP-eligible. Steps are also being taken to minimize visual effects to the nearby NR-listed Savannah-Ogeechee Canal.