Phase I Archaeological Survey of 22 Sites and Phase II Archaeological Testing of Site 9RI116 on Fort Gordon

New South Associates conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey of 22 previously recorded sites and Phase II Testing of 9RI 116 located on Fort Gordon. The 22 sites under investigation did not have formal determinations of Notional Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility. The Phase I survey was conducted in order to assess whether any of the sites were potentially eligible for the NRHP and warranted Phase II testing during the second segment of this project. Of the sites that were relocated, one (9RI 123) appeared to hove potentially intact deposits that could warrant further investigation. Site 9Rll 23 is a possible historic mill site. Because it was associated with the eligible site 9Rl37 4, and was in no danger of development, no further investigation was deemed necessary al this time and the site will be preserved in place.

Eight cubic meters of excavation were permitted for the Phase II portion of the project and all were allotted to 9Rll16. New World Research initially identified 9Rll 16 in the 1980s. The site was defined through surface inspection where artifacts from the Late Archaic, Middle Woodland, and Mississippian periods were recovered (Lewis 1981). Southeastern Archaeological Services revisited the site in 1993. No ceramics were located, but Middle and Late Archaic lithic artifacts were recovered. They recommended the site as potentially eligible to the NRHP because the deeply buried artifacts suggested that the site might contain a well-preserved cultural layer.

During the current Phase II testing, four units were excavated and one feature was located. The feature was on ironstone, diorite, and quartz rock concentration. No artifacts or staining were clearly associated with the feature and its function is unknown. As in earlier surveys of the site, deeply buried artifacts were located, but excavation of units did not reveal heavy artifact concentrations or multiple features. Additionally, the artifacts were almost entirely non-diagnostic lithic fragments. Based on the field and laboratory results, Site 9RI 116 appears to hold minimal research potential and is therefore recommended as not eligible for the NRHP.