Archaeological Investigations at the Probable Rice Mill on the Ogeechee River, Chatham County

On July 20, 2005, archaeologists from the Office of the State Archaeologist, housed in the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, visited a site on the Chatham County bank of the Ogeechee River (Figures 1 and 2). We were shown to the site by Mr. Danny Brown, Site Manager at nearby Fort McAllister State Historic Park. Mr. Brown had noticed a scatter of brick and structural features in the marsh while passing the area on the river. The site is located among mature cedars, palmettos, and scrub hardwoods and is slightly higher than the surrounding marsh. The marsh in this area along the Ogeechee River is old rice fields. Large and small canals divide the marsh into rectangular segments that are clearly visible on aerial photographs. Several of the canals contain the remains of old gates and piers from old docks frequently appear along the shore. During the July visit, we noticed several rectangular indentations along the shoreline near the site that might have served as barge landings. We also noticed several threaded rods mounted in brick platforms that probably served as bases for machinery. Lacking mapping gear, we attempted to record key points of the site using our GPS, but on plotting the points on orthophotos that served as our GIS base maps, it became clear that we had some outliers, which called the accuracy of our map into question. We decided to return to the site with compass and tape and a more accurate GPS. Our intention was to make a more accurate site map, establish a site datum, and attempt to collect diagnostic artifacts that might provide information about the function and date of occupation of the site.