Phase I and II Cultural Resource Investigations for the SCG Pipeline Project, Effingham and Chatham Counties, Georgia

TRC Garrow Associates, Inc. (TRC) conducted a cultural resources survey of a proposed pipeline corridor, access roads, and contractor yards in Chatham and Effingham counties, Georgia. The cultural resources survey was conducted in the spring and summer of 2001. Two new archaeological sites (9CH958 and 9EF252), and 11 isolated finds (IF 1-10, IF 101) were discovered during those investigations. Three previously recorded sites (9EF111, 9EF114 and 9CH936) were revisited. The historic structure survey identified six historic structures within the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE). Site 9CH958 is a small historic site that probably represents an early twentieth-century house site. Undifferentiated Woodland material was discovered at 9EF252. Site 9CH936 is a multi-component site that contains historic and prehistoric material. All three sites and 11 isolated finds are recommended ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Additional archaeological investigations should not be required at these locations, in the opinion of TRC. Site 9EF114 was originally identified in 1984. The site is a cemetery, possibly the Zion Church Cemetery, established by an early eighteenth-century Salzburger community. The possibility of over 100 graves was noted. The site was recommended as being potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP. The site was noted but not investigated during the current survey, as a gated and locked chain-link fence surrounded the cemetery. The cemetery lies within the proposed pipeline ROW, and would be adversely affected by the construction of the pipeline corridor. Therefore, TRC recommends that the pipeline corridor be re-routed in order to avoid the site. Phase I and II investigations were conducted at 9EF111. The results of those investigations indicate that one historic and several prehistoric components are present. The most significant prehistoric component is associated with one or more Middle Woodland, Deptford phase occupations. The historic occupation occurred during the eighteenth century, and is probably associated with the Salzburger settlement. TRC recommends 9EF111 eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. In our opinion, data recovery investigations will be necessary at this location if it cannot be avoided during construction. The historic structure survey sought to identify all above ground resources 50 years old or older within the project APE. The APE was defined as the proposed pipeline corridor plus any area that had a visual connection to it. A TRC senior preservation planner conducted the historic structure survey on April 16-18, 2001. During this field effort, all of the roadways for several miles surrounding the pipeline corridor were investigated for both previously identified and unidentified historic resources. Once a historic resource was identified, a determination was made as to whether the resource had a visual connection to the project and, thus, was located within the APE (see Figure 1). Six historic resources were identified within the APE, none of which had been previously identified. All of the resources were located within the portion of the APE that parallels the existing transmission line corridor. Only four of the resources are recommended eligible for the NRHP. The proposed pipeline will not affect any of these resources directly. In addition, industrial development and land clearing associated with the existing transmission line corridor have already have already occurred in view of the resources; thus, no additional visual impacts will occur.