Phase I Cultural Resource Investigation and Phase II Testing of Two Archaeological Sites on the Odum Old River Road Tract

Between November 11 and November 15, 2021, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey of 40-acres along Old River Road outside Meldrim in Effingham County, Georgia. The investigation consisted of an archaeological survey of the entire project tract and an architectural survey of the project tract and the surrounding viewshed. The tract is bound to the north by a portion of the Georgia Central Railroad. Portions of the tract have been previously surveyed, and two previously documented archaeological sites (9EF272 and 9EF273) were revisited during the current project. This cultural resources investigation was carried out for Resources and Land Consultants, LLC., Savannah, Georgia in partial fulfilment of guidelines established for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit.

Background research conducted on Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) identified two previously conducted archaeological surveys, one of which is located within the current project tract and the other within the one-kilometer (km) study area established for the current project. Two previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within the current project tract, and one site (9EF298) is located within the one-km study area. Twenty-five previously recorded historic resource are documented east of the current project tract within the one-km study area. None of these previously recorded historic resources are within the viewshed of the project tract, and they will not be adversely affected by the proposed development.

The archaeological field survey included systematic visual reconnaissance and 30-meter (m) -interval shovel testing. Our field investigation identified no newly documented archaeological sites and one isolated find within the project tract. Phase II testing was also conducted on two archaeological sites previously documented in the northern portion of the project tract, Sites 9EF272 and 9EF273. Both are late nineteenth to mid-twentieth-century house sites with surface features. Site 9EF272 consists of a chimney fall just south of the railroad and contains a historic artifact scatter and a prehistoric component located in the south east portion of the site near the boarding wetland. Site 9EF273 consists of a standing barn and several push piles containing historic building materials and modern debris. Surface features including power poles, fence lines, and the original driveway connecting to Old River Road are present at the site. Both sites have been heavily disturbed by historic agricultural and more recent timbering activities. Both sites are recommended not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The architectural field survey consisted of a visual pedestrian walkover of the project tract and its viewshed. One historic architectural resource was identified within the one-km study area around the project tract. The Georgia Central Railroad is recommended eligible for inclusion on the NRHP; however, the proposed development will have no adverse effect on the resource. No additional cultural resources management considerations are warranted for this project. We recommend cultural resources clearance for the Old River Road tract project area.