Archaeological Testing at Four Prehistoric Sites on the Carmouche Ifv Range, Fort Benning, Georgia

Southeastern Wildlife Services, Inc. has conducted an intensive archeological testing program at four prehistoric sites on the Carmouche Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) range, Fort Benning, Georgia, 9Me2l, 9Ce2O, FS17, and FS20. These sites were initially inventoried during a literature and background review and field survey of the Carmouche IFV range (McCullough 1982) and were determined to be potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The present testing program was designed to make a definitive statement on the significance of the four sites and to identify and assess potential impacts to significant sites. Recommendations were made to mitigate adverse effects when they were identified. Two of the four sites, 9Me2l and 9Ce2O, were determined to be significant, based on the presence of intact stratified deposits, midden stain, faunal and floral material and possible cultural features. Site 9Me2l contains deposits dating to the Late Archaic and Late Mississippian periods. Site 9Ce2O contains components from the Early Archaic, Late Archaic, Early to Middle Woodland and Early Mississippian periods. Construction and use of the Carmouche IFV range will directly impact significant deposits at sites 9Me2l and 9Ce2O. At site 9Me2l construction of moving and stationary targets and a target service road will impact intact stratified deposits. Data recovery was recommended at site 9Me2l to mitigate the adverse effects from the impact. At site 9Ce2O construction of a moving target could impact significant deposits, although the target will not encroach upon the deposits. Maintenance and use of the facility will also impact significant deposits. Specific protection measures are recommended at site 9Ce2O to mitigate potential impacts from construction and use of the facility.