Phase I Cultural Resources Survey, Proposed Little Ocmulgee State Park, Golf Course Addition, Wheeler County Georgia

During the period of July 30 through October 9,200 1, R.S. Webb & Associates (RSWA) conducted a Phase-I cultural resources survey of the proposed addition to the Little Ocmulgee State Park Golf Course, Little Ocmulgee State Park in Wheeler County, Georgia. The project was conducted for CCR Environmental, Inc. on behalf of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Historic Sites Division to locate and identify cultural resources within the project area and assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria (36 CFR Part 60.4). The project was conducted under the Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA 1991) and in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended 2001. The 150.0 hectare (370.5 acre) golf course addition site is located near the Little Ocmulgee River, northwest of McRae, Georgia. For evaluation of potential visual effects, the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this project is defined as extending 100 meters (330 feet) beyond the limits of the project boundaries, based on field evaluation of topography, vegetation, and modern intrusions. Literature Review: Research at the Georgia Archeological Site Files revealed that three previously recorded sites (9WL68, 9WL86, and 9WL87), are located within 1.6 km (1.0 mile) of the project tract. Since these sites are outside the project APE, the proposed project will have no effect on these resources. Review of the NRHP and historic structures files at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division revealed that no NRHP nominated or listed properties, or previously recorded historic resources, are located within 1.6 km (1.0 mile) of the project area. Thirty-three archeological sites (Sites 9WL70 through 9WL77 and 9WL92 through 9WLI 16), two isolated finds (IF-I and IF-2) and one historic structure (HS-1) were recorded during the survey. These cultural resources are listed in Table I. The archeological sites are distributed fairly evenly across the project area with the exception of the planted pine tracts. Calculating the size of the sites, these resources cover well over one-half of the total project area. The majority of the archeological sites and the two isolated finds are dispersed, low density lithic scatters. Artifacts from most of the sites were recovered from deep contexts, between 40 and 100 curbs. While deep deposits often signal the potential for intact cultural zones, given the uniform artifact depths across the sites, other factors. either singly or in combination, were given more credence in assessing NRHP eligibility. These factors include: site size in conjunction with consecutive positive shovel tests, presence of artifact concentrations, artifact diversity, diagnostic artifacts, site setting, and disturbances. Based on the survey, none of the sites are clearly eligible for the NRHP, but nine have the potential to yield significant data on the prehistory of the Little Ocmulgee River drainage (Sites 9WL77, 9WL95, 9WL96, 9WL100, 9WL103, 9WL104, 9WL109, 9WL112, and 9WLI 13). The remainder of the sites have low artifact density/diversity and/or are in areas that have been significantly disturbed. Therefore these sites are considered ineligible for the NRHP. Sites 9WL70 through 9WL76, 9WL92 through 9WL94, 9WL97 through 9WL99, 9WL101 and 9WL102, 9WL 105 through 9WL108, 9WL110 and 9WL111, 9WL 114 through 9WLI 16, and Isolated Finds IF-1 and IF-2 are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. While it is possible that these resources could contain additional archeological information due to the depth of deposits, this potential is not as high when compared to the nine sites identified as potentially eligible. Therefore, no further work is recommended for the 24 sites and two isolated finds recommended ineligible. The proposed golf course construction will impact four (Sites 9WL77, 9WL95, 9WL96, and 9WL100) of the nine archeological sites considered potentially eligible for the NRHP. It is possible that these sites could be preserved-in-place through burying the resources under clean fill. Tree removal would require monitoring and special care not to disturb the site prior to burial. Sites 9WL103, 9WL104, 9WL109, 9WL112 and 9WLI 13 are in areas reserved for park trails and camping and could be passively preserved in-place if monitored properly. For passive preservation, no removal of trees, or other ground disturbing measures can be conducted within the site boundaries. If in-place preservation is not feasible, the nine sites recommended potentially eligible should be tested to clearly assess NRHP eligibility. The number of test units needed would depend on the site size and identifiable artifact concentrations. Test unit excavation would allow better definition of the stratigraphy and cultural deposits than possible at the survey level. The historic house (HS- 1) will not be directly impacted since it is outside the golf course foot print. This resource will not be visually impacted as there will be a buffer of trees around the project area. Therefore, no further work is recommended for HS-1.