The Pig Pen Site: Archaeological Investigations at 9RI158

This report presents the results of data recovery at 9Ri158, a multicomponent, prehistoric and historic site located on a ridge overlooking a section of shoals on the Savannah River, immediately north of Augusta, Georgia. Shovel tests, backhoe trenches, hand-excavated blocks, and machine-stripped blocks (totaling 831 m2 ) were excavated in the 18,700 m2 project area to delineate site limits and to investigate features, midden, and activity areas. The site mostly consisted of a sparse plowzone mixture of Paleoindian through twentieth century artifacts. A partially intact Archaic period midden deposit was encountered on the eastern edge of the project area, producing several rock hearths associated with the site's predominant Late Archaic/Early Woodland component. This area also contained several intrusive Late Mississippian Lamar pit features. Low artifact density and tool diversity suggests that the site was infrequently used until the Late Archaic period when both of these indices substantially increase. However, the sparseness of Late Archaic features and near absence of pottery indicate that the site was not an intensive habitation site. 9Ri 158 is a portion of a greater site area that contains three other known sites. The Late Archaic/Early Woodland occupation is likely centered at one of these other adjacent sites. 9Ri 158 also contains an early nineteenth century component and extant twentieth century structures and features.