Archaeological Survey of Proposed Sewer and Natural Gas Lines on Robbins Air Force Base, Houston County, Georgia

Garrow & Associates, Inc., conducted archaeological survey of 1,116 m of proposed sewer and/or natural gas pipeline on Robins Air Force Base (Robins AFB) in Houston County, Georgia. The work was undertaken under Archaeological Resource Protection Act permit AFCEE96-02 and a Robins AFB Digging Permit issued October 9, 1996. The survey included background research and field survey. Screened shovel tests were excavated at 30 m intervals for areas lacking known sites and at 15 m intervals in the vicinity of previously recorded sites or occurrences. Fifty-two shovel tests were excavated. Background research showed that the proposed lines would pass through archaeological site 9HT30, previously deemed ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The corridor also would pass near site 9HT31, a potentially eligible resource, and Occurrence 6, an NRHP-ineligible resource. The survey resulted in the discovery of artifacts from two previously recorded sites (9HT30 and 9HT31) and the previously recorded Occurrence 6. After the field survey, the proposed location of the western leg of the corridor was changed to correspond to the existing road center line. Site 9HT30 will be directly impacted by the proposed construction. The site was originally recommended as ineligible for the NRHP. The present survey produced no data to change that recommendation. Occurrence 6 was originally deemed ineligible for the NRHP, and the present survey has produced no data to justify a change in that recommendation. Occurrence 6 is situated completely north of the road and will receive no impact from the proposed construction. Site 9HT31 was originally reported to be south of the road, but the present survey has demonstrated that at least a small portion of the site extends north of the road. The site was originally recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP, and the present survey did not provide sufficient exposure to change that recommendation. The only impact to this site will occur beneath the existing road. The road has been graded and filled in the vicinity of 9HT31, and it is unlikely that any intact remains are present beneath the road. The proposed construction will not adversely affect any of the site attributes that led to its recommendation as potentially eligible for the NRHP. Site 9HT31 is the only NRHP-eligible or potentially eligible resource that will be affected by the proposed construction in Robins Air Force Base. This site will be only impacted in an area of previous extensive disturbance. It is argued that this impact will represent no adverse effect. Archaeological clearance to construct is recommended.