Archaeological Test Excavations at the Lake Acworth Site (9Co45) and the Butler Creek Site (9Co46) Allatoona Lake, Cobb County, Georgia

Between July 23rd and August 16th, 1990, New South Associates, Inc. conducted archeological test excavations on two prehistoric sites (9Co45 and 9Co46) within the public use area of Allatoona Lake. The project was sponsored by the Mobile Corps of Engineers (Contract Number DACW01-90-C-0144). The sites (9Co45 and 9Co46) are situated on adjacent ridge noses overlooking Butler Creek at the extreme southeastern end of the sub-impoundment and on the opposite side of Lake Acworth from the town of Acworth. The sites were initially recorded as a consequence of archeological investigations conducted by the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service in the late 1940s and early 1950s (Caldwell 1950, 1957; Caldwell and McCann 1947; Miller n.d.). Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. revisited the sites during a survey of the Allatoona project land holdings above the flood pool in 1985 and 1986 (Ledbetter et al. 1986). At that time it was recommended that the sites be further evaluated should future development plans involve the prospect of damaging impacts. Due to plans initiated by Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department to build the Lake Acworth Golf complex on a portion of the public use area of Allatoona Lake, adjacent to the Lake Acworth Sub- Impoundment, which may effect these archeological sites, a program of archeological test investigation was initiated. Testing documented that both sites contained undisturbed deposits below the plow zone and a high degree of integrity. The occupation records and configurations further suggest that both can contribute to resolving many of the long-standing problems that exist in Allatoona Lake cultural sequence. As a consequence, both sites are judged to be significant and appear to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Recent modifications to the plan of the golf course indicate that 9Co46 will be avoided, but that 9Co45 will be partially impacted by construction of an access road. It is recommended that a data recovery program be initiated on that portion of the site which will be directly impacted by construction. In addition, it is recommended that Cobb County develop a protection plan for the two sites to be enacted after construction of the golf course so that access can be denied to potential site vandals.