Archaeological Evaluation of the Georgia Avenue Extension Project Aiken County, South Carolina

As part of the proposed Georgia Avenue Extension, in North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina, Brockington and Associates, Inc., investigated the extents and nature of three previously recorded archaeological sites (38AK931, 38AK932, and 38AK933), to determine their National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility, to establish accurate and appropriate site boundaries, and to make management recommendations regarding their avoidance (where necessary) or the mitigation of adverse effects (where they occur). To this end, we redefined the site boundaries based on additional field investigation and research into seven sites with distinct components and management recommendations (38AK493/391, 38AK932, 38AK933, 38AK936, 38AK937, 38AK938, and 38AK939). Additional field investigations allowed a further refinement of the NRHP-eligibility status of each site. Five of the seven (38AK932, 38AK936, 38AK937, 38AK938, and 38AK939) were recommended as ineligible for nomination to the NRHP. The other two (38AK493/391 and 38AK933) were recommended as being eligible for nomination to the NRHP and specific suggestions were presented for their avoidance or mitigation of the adverse effects associated with the proposed Georgia A venue Extension. Avoidance or preservation of Site 38AK493/391 (the 13th Street Complex) is recommended since it is argued that there is potential for the recovery of significant archaeological information, as well as interpretation of the site's historical associations. Historical research on the Georgia Avenue/Railroad Avenue commercial center would provide an excellent opportunity to produce interpretative display panels for the extension of the North Augusta Greenway. Doing so would offset any potential adverse effects to most of the archaeological components of the 13th Street Complex. Additionally though, we recommend preservation in place of the Wood Pottery associated components by capping part of the site with concrete and preventing any grading below the level of the disturbed fill soil atop the site (i.e. below 30 em). The Wood Pottery archaeological components potentially contribute to an understanding of early-twentieth century Edgefield Pottery production on a small commercial scale. If the Wood Pottery components cannot be preserved in place, we recommend Phase III archaeological data recovery to extract the significant information. Avoidance and/or preservation in place is recommended for Site 38AK933 (Riverfront Village; a Contact Period site) however, we believe that neither will mitigate the secondary adverse effects of construction (i.e. increased potential for vandalism and looting). It is not likely that the site can be perpetually protected since access cannot be easily controlled. Instead, we recommend the development of a research design and data recovery plan to offset the direct and secondary adverse effects of construction. In addition, we recommend initiation of Native American tribal consultation to develop a burial removal and relocation plan.