Intensive Archaeological Survey Proposed Suwanee River Ecolodge Fargo, Georgia

Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites Division of GaDNR proposes construction of an ecolodge complex on the west side of the Suwanee River in Clinch County. The ecolodge complex will consist of the lodge, cabins, access roads, landscaping and boardwalk trails. These features will be constructed within an area of approximately 200 meters N/S by 300 meters E/W at the end of a ca. 600 meter drive way off of US441 in Fargo. This area is part of a recent acquisition by DNR. A reconnaissance level archaeological survey was conducted by the Office of the State Archaeologist in February of 2001. The 2001 survey recorded one archaeological site, 9CI167. The site is located near the catfish pond that will be incorporated into the proposed ecolodge complex. The site was a disturbed and sparse artifact scatter and was recommended not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Parts of the proposed ecolodge project area were covered during the earlier survey. The earlier survey also determined that construction of the visitor center complex (recently completed) downstream near the US441 bridge would not affect significant sites. There had been some changes in the plans for locating facilities within the park since the 2001 survey, so additional survey was undertaken. The catfish pond, which was almost dry during the 2001 survey, was nearly full during the August 2004 re-visit, and was occupied by a small alligator. The 2001 survey covered the area immediately surrounding the catfish pond. The 2004 survey extended the intensively surveyed portion further to the east to include the ecolodge and associated facilities indicated by current development plans. The facilities will be constructed within a pine plantation that appears to be about 15 years old. Conditions at the time of the survey were challenging. Several days of rain associated with a tropical storm had soaked the ground and vegetation. The pine plantation had been allowed to become overgrown with a shrub understory that was intertwined with vines and briars. Progress was slow and difficult. The survey crew consisted of Staff Archaeologist Ronnie Rogers and interns Amy Austin and Joe McCarthy, both anthropology students at Georgia State University in Atlanta. The crew was divided into two teams. With the exception of the dirt road and cleared area around the pond (which had been covered in the earlier survey) there was no surface visibility. Survey teams walked transects 30 meters apart and placed shovel tests at 30 meter intervals along each transect. GPS readings were made at shovel tests on the north and south transects. Twenty-two shovel tests were dug. Soil was screened through 1/4 inch hand screens, soil profiles were recorded, and the tests were backfilled. The dark colored un-numbered tests were dug during the 2001 survey. None of the 2001 shovel tests were positive. The dashed line indicates the approximate boundary of site 9CI167 based on the extent of surface material. The site was recommended not eligible for listing in the NRHP due to lack of site integrity and the low density of material. The 22 numbered tests were dug during the 2004 investigation documented by this report. Two of the tests were positive. ST10 contained one gray chert flake ca. 2 x 3 cm. The flake had a well-defined platform and bulb of percussion and it showed evidence of heat fracturing. ST 1 I contained one small (ca. 1 cm) clear flake fragment that might have been chert or quartz. The flake was not collected. The flakes were probably associated with 9CI167. There was no evidence that suggested changing the previous assessment of 9C1167. The site does not meet any of the NRHP criteria for eligibility and is considered not eligible. Soil profiles were fairly consistent, with an upper layer of dark gray loamy sand that extended to 25-30 cm below surface. In most of the shovel tests, a pale yellowish brown to white sand layer extended to around 60-80 cmbs, where bits of orange clay began to appear in the sand. Based on plans provided at that time, the 2001 survey focused on two areas of the proposed park - the west bank of the river and the area around the catfish pond. The current survey provided additional coverage of the area east of the catfish pond and found no evidence of a significant archaeological site in that area. Construction of the Ecolodge complex will have no effect on significant archaeological resources and no further investigation is recommended for this phase of work.