Between July 20 and 24, 2020, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey for the Riverwatch Parking Tract in Richmond County, Georgia. This investigation consisted of an archaeological survey of the 26-acre project tract and an architectural survey of the project tract and the surrounding viewshed. This cultural resources investigation was carried out for Resource and Land Consultants, LLC, Savannah, Georgia in partial fulfilment of guidelines established for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit.
Prior to this investigation, Brockington conducted background research on Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) database to identify any cultural resources that were previously documented and are located within the current project tract or within a one-kilometer (km) research buffer surrounding the project area. The background research identified no previously recorded archaeological sites or historic resources within the project tract. Seven previously recorded archaeological resources and eight previously conducted cultural resource investigations are located within one km of the project tract.
Brockington’s field survey identified one archaeological site, 9RI1205, within the project tract. Site 9RI1205 consists of the remains of an early twentieth century radio transmitting station. Two concrete foundations of the former radio towers remain. No other structural features are present, and no artifacts were recovered. Therefore, we recommend Site 9RI1205 not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP and no further management considerations are warranted. The architectural field survey resulted in the identification of one historic resource within the viewshed of the current project tract. The former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad is situated along the southern boundary of the project tract and is considered eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. The current proposed project will not alter any of the NRHP-qualifying features of the historic resource and we recommend a finding of no adverse effect on the NRHP-eligible resource. Therefore, we recommend the proposed Riverwatch Parking will not impact any NRHP-eligible cultural resources, and no further management is warranted.
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