Phase II Archaeological Investigations at Six Sites (9Ri605, 9Ri607,Ri548, 9Ri513, and 9Ri111) Fort Gordon, Georgia

Of the six potentially eligible sites (9Ri605, 9Ri606, 9Ri607, 9Ri548, 9Ri513, and 9Ri111) test excavated on Fort Gordon in May 2000, three (9Ri605, 9Ri606, and 9Ri607) are recommended eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. The three eligible sites demonstrated unequivocal evidence for archaeological research potential. All three sites contained stratified deposits, separating components from different culture historical periods. Site 9Ri605 yielded an Early Archaic lithic underneath a layer with Late Archaic ceramics and a top layer with Early Mississippian ceramics. Site 9Ri606 contained a layer with an Early Woodland sherd above a layer with an Archaic period lithic. Site 9Ri607 has a pot burst dating to the Late Mississippian sub-period stratified above some Late Woodland arrowheads. In spite of the small size and leached nature of sandy deposits at these sites, detailed study of artifact clusters may help us better understand the age and function of small camps in the uplands of the Sand Hills. Due to their research value it is recommended the 9Ri605, 9Ri606, and 9Ri607 are avoided. If avoidance of the three sites is not possible, then mitigation through data recovery is recommended. In contrast to these sites, test excavations showed that 9Ri548, 9Ri513, and 9Ri111 did not display sufficient stratigraphic integrity and/or artifacts numbers/variety to have meaningful research value. It is accordingly recommended these three sites are not eligible to the National Register of Historic Places and need not be avoided or mitigated through data recovery.