Archaeological Survey of FY 2021 Timber Harvesting, Attapulgus Research and Education Center, University of Georgia, Decatur County, Georgia

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences manages the University's Attapulgus Research and Educational Center (AREC) just north of the town of Attapulgus in southern Decatur County, about 4 miles north of the Florida state line. The College intends to harvest timber, by both clear cutting and thinning, on 70.8 acres of scattered stands of woodland that surround the central cultivated core of the 280-ac research center. The 5-page plan to conduct this operation, Attapulgus Research and Educational Center Timber Harvest Plan FY21 by Ben Tucker, proposes to construct ten log loading decks adjacent to the open fields or existing woods' roads. To ensure that the clearing and light grading of the proposed decks do not damage potentially significant archaeological sites, the University contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services to conduct a Phase I archaeological survey of the ten loading decks in accordance with the Timber Harvest Archaeology Protocol developed by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division and the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's Forest Management Unit in 2011. The archaeological survey was conducted on August 20 and 21, 2020. One archaeological site was discovered and recorded, a small, sparse plow zone scatter of prehistoric lithic and pottery that was given the site number 9DR251. Because this site is so sparse and disturbed by previous land use we recommend that the site is not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Thus, we recommend that the proposed construction of the ten log loading decks and the timber harvesting will not adversely affect significant archeological resources and should be granted clearance to proceed.