An Intensive Cultural Resource Assessment Survey and Site Evaluations, Cherokee Brick and Tile Company Tract, Bibb County, Georgia

This report presents the findings of an intensive cultural resource assessment survey, site evaluations, and historic assessment of two parcels in Bibb County, Georgia. These parcels consist of 1,226 acres owned by the Cherokee Brick and Tile Company of Macon, Georgia. The project was undertaken at the client's request in 1999 in conjunction with a Section 404 permit application. This project was conducted by Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI), of Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of the Cherokee Brick and Tile Company, Inc. in order to comply with federal and state regulations regarding the identification and management of cultural resources that might occur within the project tract. The goals of this project were to locate, delineate, identify, and evaluate all cultural resources within the project tract. Intensive testing focused on all portions of the project tract excluding areas found to be flooded or disturbed; 1,060 deep tests were excavated with a Bobcat mechanical auger and by hand within the tract. Fieldwork was conducted intermittently from April 28, 1999 to October 18, 2000, and nine prehistoric sites (9131128-9131136) were located. Cultural components identified date from the Early Archaic to late Mississippian periods. Based upon the results of initial testing, it was determined that some of the sites in the project tract had the potential to provide data relevant to the understanding of Native American lifeways. Test units were excavated at five of these sites to more fully address their National Register of Historic Places eligibility status.