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Archaeological Investigation of the Proposed Site of the Lumpkin County Reservoir, Lumpkin County, Georgia

Author(s)
Report Number
1251
Year of Publication
1990
Abstract

The literature and records search undertaken on this project indicated that no archaeological sites were known to exist on the study property prior to the field survey. One historic site, the Consolidated Gold Mine Site, had been recorded adjacent to the study property, and that site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It had been anticipated prior to the survey that the study area would exhibit extensive ground disturbances from past placer mining for gold, and that areas with reasonably intact soils would be rare. Contrary to expectations, the field survey identified two prehistoric sites and a modern barn within the study tract, and occupation of the prehistoric sites spans from the Archaic through the Mississippian. Site #2 yielded Swift Creek Complicated Stamped pottery, a pottery type that is somewhat rare to the north of the Fall Line. It now appears that the study property was not placer mined to any great extent, and the study tract was probably used as a provisioning ground during the earlier mining episodes in the area. Archaeological testing was proposed for both prehistoric sites, and inspection of the standing structures associated with the modern barn but outside of the study area was recommended for the barn.