Between September 28 and November 11, 2020, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington), conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey of the 812-acre Blitchton Timberlands Tract and Phase II testing of two identified archaeological sites, 9BN1618 and 9BN1620, in Bryan County, Georgia. The investigation consisted of an archaeological and architectural survey of the entire project tract and the surrounding viewshed. This cultural resources investigation was carried out for Resources and Land Consultants, LLC, of Savannah, Georgia, in partial fulfillment 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 three previously conducted archaeological surveys, portions of which are within the 1.0-kilometer (km) study area established for this current project. No previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within the current project tract or the 1.0-km study area.
One previously recorded historic resource was recorded north of the current project tract within the 1.0-km study area. The archaeological field survey included systematic visual reconnaissance and 30-meter-interval shovel testing. Our field investigation identified nine archaeological sites (9BN1618, 9BN1619, 9BN1620, 9BN1621, 9BN1622, 9BN1623, 9BN1624, 9BN1625, and 9BN1626) and four isolated finds within the project tract. Phase II testing was conducted on two of the archaeological sites, 9BN1618 and 9BN1620. Both are late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century house sites with surface features. Site 9BN1618 consists of a chimney fall and a brick-lined well, and Site 9BN1620 consists of a brick-lined well and a collapsed house. Additional metal detecting survey and test unit excavation was conducted at each site to gather more information for a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) recommendation. Sites 9BN1618, 9BN1620, and the remaining seven archaeological sites identified within the project tract are recommended not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP.
The architectural field survey consisted of a visual pedestrian walkover of the project tract and its viewshed. Six historic architectural resources were identified within the 1.0-km study area around the project tract. Resources 1 and 3-6 consist of historic houses located along U.S. Highway 80 and Eldora Road. Resources 3-6 are recommended not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. One property, Resource 1, consists of a Ranch house and a collection of agricultural outbuildings that we recommend eligible for the NRHP. The proposed project will not physically impact Resource 1. No additional cultural resources management considerations are warranted for this project. We recommend cultural resources clearance for the Blitchton Timberlands Tract project area.
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