Cultural Resources Survey Proposed Silver Creek Land Exchange Site

R.S. Webb & Associates conducted a cultural resources assessment of the proposed Silver Creek Land Exchange Site in Forsyth County, Georgia July 21 through August 7, 1995. The assessment was conducted on behalf of White Contracting Company to locate and identify cultural resources within the project area and assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria [36 CFR Part 60.4(d)]. The project area covers approximately 9.7 hectares and is located in Forsyth County, southeast of Cumming and southwest of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River. Previous investigations in the general project vicinity (Hamilton 1974; O'Grady and Poe 1980; Gresham 1987) have identified resources dating to the Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and Historic periods. These studies suggest that Early Archaic, Middle Woodland and Early Mississippian components are particularly common in the region. The assessment included a literature/records search and an archeological field survey of the project area. A review of pertinent National Register files, historic structures files and archeological site files revealed that no National Register resources, previously recorded historic structures or known archeological sites are located within the project area. Historic maps show no 19th or Early 20th century structures located within the project area. Six cultural resources were detected during the field survey of the proposed land exchange site. The sites include three prehistoric lithic scatters (Sites 9FO261, 9FO262 and 9FO265), one prehistoric lithic scatter and rockshelter (Site 9FO263), one late l9th/early 20th century house site with a prehistoric lithic component (Site 9FO264), and one prehistoric quarry site (Site 9FO266). Sites 9FO261, 9FO262, 9FO264 and 9FO265 have been severely disturbed by erosion, terracing and/or road construction. Since these sites are unlikely to produce significant archeological data, they are recommended as ineligible for the NRHP and no further work is warranted. Sites 9FO263 and 9FO266 are recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP based on high artifact density, site setting and potential for intact cultural deposits/features. If these sites cannot be avoided, additional testing beyond the scope of the current survey will be required to determine the NRHP eligibility status (ineligible or eligible) of Sites 9FO263 and 9FO266.