Archaeological Investigation of an Archaic Site on Proposed U.S. Army Dropzone, Union County, Georgia

Archaic lithic materials exposed by the machine clearing of stumps and logging slash have been systematically collected. Preliminary analysis of artifact type and frequency suggests in situ cultural relationships expressed by a cluster and as well as 'pockets" of tools in association with manufacturing debitage. Subsurface tests, while inconclusive, suggest that the site may have a depth of 24 cm. in some locations and extends south of the machine-cleared area. Geographically, the site is ideally suited to seasonal exploitation of the flora with its attendant fauna by early inhabitants of the area. Protected from high winds by a cove formed by Hicks Ridge, the site overlooks a valley still rich in game and vegetation. East of and adjacent to the site is an active stream, the bed of which has exposed"workable" parent materials native to the area. From a behavioral standpoint, the site warrants further investigation before additional ground disturbing activities occur. Little is known of the Archaic stage in the east; even less in North Georgia. The data collected suggests that the site is multi-component and that the full range of tool manufacture occurred here. Should massive ground disturbance such as cultivation indeed be absent, then the probability of discovering in situ relationships in tool manufacture and subsurface features and inferring from these activity areas and behavioral patterns is high. Investigation aimed at securing information sufficient to arrive at a determination of the site's eligibility for National Register status is essential in planning for future land use.